PFA Scotland chief executive Fraser Wishart has offered his support to Rangers owner Craig Whyte to help the club through their financial crisis.

Wishart is on standby to help players at Ibrox after the club lodged notice of their intention to go into administration.

Such a move would likely lead to redundancies on the playing staff and Wishart is keen to help minimise the impact on his members but also the club itself.

The former Rangers full-back told Sky Sports News: “There has been all sorts of finger-pointing and ramifications. For me it’s about working with the players and the club.

“I’m hoping to meet with the owner and we can possibly work with the club and ensure there’s a good enough team on the football park.”

Whyte has revealed Rangers are facing a tax bill of up to £75 million following a tribunal into staff payments before he took control in May last year.

Rangers said on Monday a final decision on whether to enter administration would be made within ten working days.

Wishart said: “I’m not party to the intimate details. Our role is to look after our members. But at the same time we also aim to help clubs survive. We have worked with many clubs and players are flexible.

“They all love Scottish football and love playing for Rangers. They are all aware they need to be professional at this time and I’m sure they will.”

by Ismail Uddin

The Eurosport Group and Infront Sports & Media have announced they have been extended their long-term partnership of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship for the 2013, capsule 2014 and 2015 seasons, impotent with new exclusivities in four markets.

Eurosport has renewed the TV and digital rights to the eni FIM Superbike World Championship (SBK), including support classes FIM Supersport World Championship and FIM Superstock 1000cc Cup. In a change to the previous deal Eurosport is now exclusive LIVE broadcaster on air, online and on mobile in UK, Ireland, Germany and France.

This pan-European agreement includes all 59 territories covered by Eurosport. All rounds of the three championships will be shown live or delayed in high definition on either Eurosport or Eurosport 2 channels.

Digital rights will see all races, including the Superpole qualifying, broadcast on internet and mobile on the Eurosport Player online streaming service.

Julien Bergeaud, Director of Broadcasting and Programmes, Eurosport Group said: “Eurosport has been a long-term partner of World Superbike since 1998. We are delighted to extend this partnership for three additional years. With extensive coverage on TV, internet and mobile of the three FIM championships, plus exclusivities in key markets such as UK, Germany and France, Eurosport brings unrivalled broadcast to superbike fans in Europe and consolidates its motorsports offer.”

Stephan Herth, Executive Director Summer Sports, Infront Sports & Media, added: “With the extension of the Eurosport agreement Infront has secured the most comprehensive coverage for World Superbike across Europe for the upcoming three seasons for the benefit of fans, manufacturers, teams and all commercial partners. Eurosport has a strong commitment to continue to serve motorcycling enthusiasts across the continent with top quality programming. This will help in further raising the profile of the world’s leading production-based motorcycle racing series.”

English Championship side Portsmouth have confirmed that they are to enter administration for the second time in two years.

Pompey face a winding-up hearing next week over an unpaid tax bill and have not been able to pay their players and staff for January. They could face the prospect of a ten-point penalty in the league.

A club statement said: “Portsmouth Football Club today made an application to the High Court to go into administration. The club will not enter administration until the court endorses the application and appoints an administrator.”

Portsmouth chief executive David Lampitt said the fresh blow to the club was difficult to accept.

Lampitt told BBC Radio Five Live: ”It does beggar belief, for everyone associated with the club: the supporters in particular who have been through so much, my staff who have been through so much and have fought so hard since the club emerged from administration in 2010, and it’s a very, very hard pill to swallow.

”It wasn’t me personally, it was the board of directors, who today made an application to put the club into administration. The date for that hearing is going to be this Friday, February 17, so we’ll find out on Friday.”

Describing events as ”an incredibly sad state of affairs”, Lampitt added: ”The best outcome for all sides is there is a clean break and the club goes into new ownership and puts all of that behind us.”

Peter Kubik, of the club’s financial advisors UHY Hacker Young, said: ”They are in the process of seeking an administration order – an application to court seeking administration is due to go in any day.

”The club’s bank accounts have been frozen due to the winding up hearing and they are finding it very difficult to trade. Once the administration order is in place the bank accounts will be made accessible again. We are aware that administration carries an automatic 10-point deduction by the Football League.”

Pompey were plunged into another financial crisis after their parent company, Convers Sports Initiatives (CSI), went into administration in November. UHY Hacker Young are the administrators for CSI.

The tax bill is for between £1.2 million and £900,000 but Kubik said there were many other outstanding bills to pay. Among these, the club needs to pay their electricity supplier in order to avoid being cut off.

”There are lots of bills they need to pay,” added Kubik.

In February 2010, Portsmouth became the first Premier League club to enter administration and were deducted nine points, condemning them to relegation.

A ten-point deduction from the Football League would put Pompey on 25 points, outside the relegation places on goal difference alone.

This follows Rangers decision to enter administration.

by Ismail Uddin

EuroleagueBasketball and the Eurosport Group have announced Eurosport 2 will remain the official broadcasting partner of the Eurocup for a further three seasons until 2015.

As in previous seasons, Eurosport 2 will cover several games live each week for the duration of the deal. The channel will also produce and broadcast in HD the showpiece EurocupFinal, which becomes an exciting standalone match for the 2012/2013 season. Finally, Eurosport 2 has developed a new on-air look for its Euroleaguemagazine show which will be broadcast on Tuesdays in the build-up to live action.

Eurosport 2 is one of the fastest-growing TV channels in Europe, reaching 61 million households in 18 languages across 47 countries. Its coverage of the Eurocupsince 2005 has accompanied the growth of the competition into a brand that is followed closely by millions of fans throughout Europe and the rest of the world. This season the Eurocupwill feature 32 clubs from 17 countries.

The deal also includes broadcast of the Eurocupand Euroleaguemagazine in the 17 countries covered by Eurosport in the Asia Pacific region.

EuroleagueBasketball Director of Televison& New Media Rights AndreaBassan isaid: “It is a significant achievement to reach a new deal with Eurosport that will bring our partnership to 10 full seasons. We appreciate all that Eurosport has done for us and will do for us and are thrilled that theEurocupcontinues to grow and to give Eurosport an excellent product to broadcast.”

Julien Bergeaud, Director of Broadcasting and Programmes, Eurosport Group said:”We are delighted to extend our long-term partnership with Euroleague Basketball, with whom we have a particularly strong relationship. Since its launch in 2005, Eurosport 2 has grown together with the Eurocupand our coverage of the competitions is a major part of the channel’s identity, consolidating the strategy of broadcasting team sports. We look forward to another successful season working hand-in-hand withEuroleagueBasketball.”

Historic Scottish club Glasgow Rangers, champions of Scotland on 54 occasions, have lodged a notice to go into administration according to reports.

STV and BBC Scotland both report that the Court of Session in Edinburgh has confirmed the club’s solicitors have given notice of Rangers’ intention to appoint administrators.

That means the Glasgow club now have 10 days to formally announce that the running of the club has been taken over by administrators.

At present Rangers are awaiting a verdict in a tax tribunal with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that could land the club with a bill of £49 million.

If they lose their case then it is feared the historic club could enter liquidation, a development which would have huge repercussions for the Scottish game.

Rangers will be hit with a 10-point penalty if they do enter administration. They are currently four points behind great rivals Celtic in the table.

by Ismail Uddin

MLB Network have been announced as the exclusive English-language telecast partner for the World Baseball Classic.

The league-owned network’s rights are for the next two tournaments in 2013 and 2017.

The 2013 version will take place from March 2-19, 2013, and will feature an expanded 28-team field. The WBC was created in 2005 in response to the International Olympic Committee’s decision to remove baseball from the list of Summer Olympic events. It is sanctioned by International Baseball Federation and is organized partly by the MLB and MLBPA. The first tournament was held in 2006.

MLB Network will premiere a World Baseball Classic promotional spot during its World Series coverage, which begin Wednesday.

MLB Network president and CEO Tony Petitt, said: “The World Baseball Classic is the premier international baseball competition and acquiring the exclusive rights to the 2013 and 2017 tournaments continues MLB Network’s goal of acquiring premium exclusive content to help grow the network and serve baseball fans.”

Liverpool’s major shirt sponsors Standard Chartered are unhappy with the actions on Saturday from the club and player Luis Suarez and have wrote to the U.S. owners regarding their dissatisfaction.

Standard Chartered, cheap pills a bank, pay £20 million per year to have their name emblazoned across Liverpool’s shirts but the racial abuse row that led into the handshake shenanigans on Saturday at Old Trafford have left them concerned about having their name associated with the club.

“We were very disappointed by Saturday’s incident and have discussed our concerns with the club,” the bank said in a statement.

It is believed the letter Standard Chartered sent to Liverpool’s U.S. owners over the weekend helped defuse the race row and led to the club, manager and player’s apology that came yesterday to help repair the reputation of one of England’s most successful teams.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez apologised for not shaking Patrice Evra’s hand before the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United and manager Kenny Dalglish also said sorry about his heated post-match reaction and failing to condemn his player.

Liverpool have denied to comment about pressure being put on them and their staff to apologise.

Meanwhile the English Football Association, the body who imposed the eight-match ban on Suarez in the first place, have said today they will take no action over Suarez’s refusal to shake hands as it is not a disciplinary issue.

by Ismail Uddin

Badminton Horse Trials have signed a new BBC deal that will see the dressage competition return to the broadcaster after it was cancelled.

The Trials will revert to its original Thursday to Sunday schedule from 2014 and move to the weekend after the May Bank Holiday, with the 2014 dates being May 8-11.

This year’s Badminton was cancelled due to heavy rain leaving the estate waterlogged, but Trials organisers revealed reverting to the orginal schedule was in part due to the signing of a new contract with the BBC to cover the world-famous event through to and including 2016.

2015’s trials will take place on May 7-10, with the 2016 event on May 5-8.

Director of Badminton Hugh Thomas said: “We are of course very pleased to continue our unbroken coverage with the national broadcaster.

“There is always a knock-on effect when big sporting dates change, but equestrian enthusiasts and our many exhibitors will be happy that the Royal Windsor Horse Show has also moved one week later so there will be no clash.

“We will also avoid any future clashes with the Kentucky four-star event and our loyal spectators will be thrilled to revert to a Sunday finish.”

BBC Sport director Barbara Slater added: “We’re delighted to extend our deal with the prestigious Badminton Horse Trials through to 2016, taking coverage of the sport through on into the Rio Olympic year.

“Badminton has been covered by the BBC since 1956, we’re pleased to be able to continue this and have the opportunity to give it the scheduling that it deserves.”

The 2013 event will be sponsored by Mitsubishi Motors for the 22nd consecutive year and their current agreement with Badminton runs to at least 2015.

It also includes the Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Championships which take place the day before the International Horse Trials starts.

Celtic Football Club interim results have revealed that Profits have fallen by £7m but their debt with the bank has been cut by £2m.

Turnover at the Parkhead club increased by almost £1m to £29.27m, here according to the interim results for the second half of last year that were released on Monday.

Profit before tax at Celtic was £177, medicine 000 for the period, capsule compared to a profit of £7.05m for six months to December 31, 2010.

At the end of 2010 the club’s bank debt was just over £9m, which was reduced to just over £7m, according to the unaudited accounts. Profit on selling players fell around £10m to £3.1m from £13.2m, while investment in the playing squad fell nearly £5m to £4.4m.

Ian Bankier, Celtic chairman, states in the accounts that the turnover increase made up for falls in other areas.

He said: “This increase offset reduced revenues from pre-season tours and merchandising.

“Both are areas where the marketplace domestically and internationally remains very challenging. Like many with a presence in the high street, we continue to see difficult conditions driven by a squeeze on household incomes.”

Mr Bankier, who took over the role from former MP John Reid in October, said the bank debt “remains manageable, and well within the club’s facilities”.

Although squad investment had fallen on the previous year, Mr Bankier stated that the board were confident the “the strength and depth of the player pool now available to the football manager is better than it has been for several seasons”.

He added: “This has been a conscious decision that the financial discipline of the past has allowed us to take. As a result, we have been able to enjoy the virtuous trilogy of being able to keep our best players, build and develop significant value in our player pool, and see improvements in football performance.”

The chairman also paid tribute to manager Neil Lennon in the results after Celtic started the season on a poor run of form that saw them 15 points behind rivals Rangers, before regaining top spot in the Scottish Premier League.

by Ismail Uddin

Australian Rugby Union today announced Network Ten as the new Free-to-Air (FTA) broadcast rights holder for Qantas Wallabies Test matches from 2013-2015.