The League Managers Association (LMA) have declared that the English Premier League and Football League spent almost £100 million ($154.5m) changing their manager last season.

According to the LMA, the cost of compensation, legal fees and ‘double contracts’ amounted to £99m ($153m).

A ‘double contract’ is when a sacked manager’s contract is honoured until a certain point in time but his replacement also requires a salary.

October is traditionally the month when clubs begin sacking their managers. Between October 2010 and February 2011, 25 clubs opted for that course of action.

Several managers have already lost their job this season, including Peter Reid, who was sacked by League Two Plymouth Argyle last week.

The figure of £99m ($153m) would have been higher had agents fees and the cost of sacking and replacing a manager’s backroom team been taken into account.

According to the LMA, which represents managers in the Premier League and Football League, more than 100 coaches also lost their jobs last season.

Reid, who was in charge of Plymouth at a time when the club were battling to avoid administration, told BBC Radio 5: “Chairman and owners need to be more realistic about their expectations. Certainly in the Championship where they’re all trying to get to the Holy Grail and that’s the Premiership. There needs to be a bit of realism.”

LMA chief executive Richard Bevan, also weighed into this issue.

Bevan said: “We want to move away from managers being judged on their last three results. In fact, when results take a downturn that is when the club should support its manager even more, not jump for the quick fix.”

Sir Alex Ferguson, who has been the manager of Manchester United for almost 25 years, agrees.

“It’s always a problem in modern-day management. You see time and time again that these guys are only in a position a year before the clubs are sacking them,” he said.

The LMA also said that Championship managers who were sacked in 2010-11 had an average tenure of less than a year.

The average was 1.33 years in League 2, 1.67 years in League 1 and 2.07 years in the Premier League.

The average length of time it takes a sacked manager to get another job is currently 1.63 years. Almost half of first-time managers are never appointed to a second management position.

Vizion Plus and TRING TV have secured media rights for the 2012-15 UEFA Europa League in Albania, clinic UEFA has announced.

Each matchnight the first pick match will be broadcast on free-to-air channel Vizion Plus while four live matches will be shown across the family of TRING-branded pay channels. A highlights programme wrapping up all the key action will be broadcast on both the free and pay outlets

All rights have been granted on a platform-neutral basis, erectile with the rights also being exploited on the internet via www.vizionplus.tv and www.tring.tv, as well as on mobile.

The new rightsholders have replaced Radio Televizioni Shqiptar and Supersport.

Arsenal’s latest financial reports have reveled a significant fall in turnover but the Premier League Club’s chief Executive Ivan Gazidis is not perturbed by the situation.

Arsenal reported turnover of £255.7 million ($396.4m) for the financial year ending May 31, down from £379.9 million ($589.3m) in 2010, while profit slumped from £56 million ($86.9m) to £14.8 million ($22.9m). Reduced income from property sales at the Highbury redevelopment on the site of Arsenal’s old stadium and an increase in player wages contributed to the results. Property sales dropped to £30.3 million ($47m) from £157 million ($243.6m) the previous year, while staff wages increased year-on-year by 12% to £124.4 million ($193m).

However, Arsenal’s debt was reduced by 28% to £97.8 million ($151.8m) and the financial results did not include the transfer fees received for Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy. Fabregas joined FC Barcelona for £30 million ($46.5m) while Nasri and Clichy joined Manchester City for fees of £24 million ($37.2m) and £7 million ($10.8m), respectively.

Gazidis said in a statement: “We are very secure – it’s a good set of results again. This is a very solid, very healthy set of results and it gives us a good platform to move forward from. We didn’t have the same kind of profit from player sales that we had in the previous season and that explains the slight reduction in profit.

“We haven’t seen the same kind of profits from the property side that we have seen in the past but that was entirely to be expected. Our property business is debt-free so any new sales of property do accumulate cash, which is very positive for the future.”

ESPN Star Sports, the media rights holder for all International Cricket Council (ICC) events till 2015, has signed a significant broadcast rights deal in Australia with Fox Sports and Channel Nine.

The two Australian broadcasters will provide live coverage of every major ICC event from 2012 to 2015, including the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Fox Sports will provide live coverage of each tournament during the three-year agreement, including every match of the 2012 and 2014 ICC World T20 events, plus every match in the 2013 Champions Trophy and ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Channel Nine will bring free-to-air viewers the action from all the big games in the 2012 and 2014 World T20 tournaments and again for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 on home soil.

The agreement covers 2012 and 2014 ICC World Twenty20, 2013 ICC Champions Trophy and, world cricket’s premier event, the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Fox Sports CEO Patrick Delany said, “We are delighted to be partnering with Channel Nine and the ICC and are looking forward to delivering live and high definition coverage of all major international cricket tournaments to complement our exclusive coverage of Australia’s international tours and national competitions including the KFC T20 Big Bash League.

“Last year we delivered an immersive Rugby World Cup experience, going beyond the live match coverage to tell the entire story of the tournament through our presence in and around the venues, fans, and Wallabies camp in New Zealand. The 2015 Cricket World Cup will be the biggest cricket event to hit our shores in over 20 years and we plan to offer fans the complete package.”

Channel Nine MD Jeffrey Browne, said: “Nine’s Wide World of Sports and big-time cricket are synonymous and to ultimately have the 2015 ICC World Cup played at home in Australia as part of this new deal is both a challenge and celebration we very much look forward to.”

ESPN Star Sports Managing Director Peter Hutton, “We are delighted that we are able to extend our long term relationship with Fox Sports in Australia as we ensure that the ICC events are seen by cricket fans throughout the world. We look forward to the next ICC Cricket World Cup being the most watched cricket event in the history of the sport, and thank Fox for their support.”

ICC General Manager – Commercial Campbell Jamieson said, “The ICC is delighted to have the continued support of major Australian broadcasters Fox Sports and the Nine Network for its events. These partnerships will ensure that fans in Australia continue to enjoy top quality broadcast coverage from premier cricket events, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, which will take place in Australia and New Zealand.”

English Football League club Port Vale have declared a new investment by Peter Miller purchasing £250,000 in club shares.

The new shares are part of the deal for new investment negotiated in the United States by Perry Deakin and Chairman Mike Lloyd. Blue Sky International have this week purchased £150K of new shares, taking the overall total by both parties to £400K.

Miller, 52, is also expected to seek election to the club’s board, subject to shareholders’ approval, following the completion of paperwork for Perry Deakin’s candidacy.

Miller is a long-established contact of Deakin, with the pair first meeting when the former worked for Aston Villa while the Vale Chief Executive was Commercial Director at Birmingham City Football Club.

Miller has a wealth of international and domestic football experience and was directly responsible for the negotiation of Liverpool Football Club’s first-ever international partnership, establishing and delivering the club’s operations in North America.

He has also held executive positions at several UK Clubs including Head of International Development at Aston Villa Football Club and Chief Executive Officer at Northampton Town, where he negotiated what remains the club’s largest ever sponsorship deal with Carlsberg Brewery.

Miller said: “Following lengthy discussions with Perry Deakin and the club’s board, I am most excited to be involved in Port Vale Football Club and look forward to offering my industry experience and network of contacts, when required, to help take the football club forward,” 

“I have been following the fortunes of Port Vale closely and significantly, most recently, in specific relation to the advancements of its management structure and overall vision to move the club forwards. I wholeheartedly believe that the club has enormous potential and look forward to doing whatever I can to assist in bringing good times back to Vale Park, which will hopefully happen sooner rather than later.”

Chief Executive Perry Deakin added, “I have known Peter since his time at Aston Villa when I myself was at Birmingham City and it was clear when Peter expressed an interest in Port Vale that he had all the necessary qualities and desire to help drive the club towards better times.”

“He was a wealth of experience in the UK and overseas and Peter’s exceptional contacts, skills and experience within the game can only help Port Vale as we aim to develop and expand our business offering.

“The Club needs people with a wider reach of contacts and experience than the local game alone, this is essential in the modern game and part of the clubs aims and objectives – Peter fits this mandate perfectly.

“We are delighted that Peter has recognised the potential of the club and opted to invest in Port Vale. Should a board position be approved, this can only be a positive step for the club.

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. and the NFL’s Chicago Bears announced today the official Spanish radio coverage partnership with WLEY-FM-“LA LEY 107.9FM” to bring Bears football games to the Spanish radio dial.

WLEY-FM-“LA LEY 107.9FM” will become the Spanish language flagship station of the Chicago Bears with the on-air team of Jose Luis Marquez “El Pitufo” and Liz Liz “La Dama del Deporte.”Liz Liz is a long time sports broadcaster, while Marquez is one of the most well-respected and tenured Spanish radio voices in Chicago.

“A singular destination for expansive Spanish radio coverage of Bears football is great for our fans and our business,” said Chris Hibbs Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Chicago Bears Football Club. “We are proud to have WLEY-FM-“LA LEY 107.9FM” as our Spanish radio partner and we have tremendous amount of respect for the coverage they deliver year-round to Chicago sports fans.”

Jeff Delgado WLEY-FM-“LA LEY 107.9FM” Local Sales Manager stated: “This is a natural partnership for WLEY-FM-“LA LEY 107.9FM”as we already present the majority of Bears games in our market. We are thrilled to further expand our relationship with the Bears and the NFL.”

“We are excited about the relationship with The Chicago Bears and I am sure the Hispanic community appreciates the commitment the Bears are making to reach out to those whose first language is Spanish,” said Donny Hudson VP of Consolidated Sales of SBS. 

WLEY-FM-“LA LEY 107.9FM” will broadcast every Bears football game in 2012-2013 season

“We are thrilled to be the Spanish broadcast home of the Bears,” said Berry Jasin, VP of National Sales Consolidated of SBS. “Partnering with our hometown football team makes sense for our listeners and for WLEY-FM-“LA LEY 107.9FM”. Adding sports to our line-up compliments our other programming, enhances the experience for loyal fans and attracts new listeners. We could not be prouder of our association with the Chicago Bears.”

WLEY-FM-“LA LEY 107.9FM”will also have a significant presence inside Soldier Field on game days, at team events throughout the year and on chicagobears.com.

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour financial success has led to him being named top of this season’s Football Rich List with a personal fortune of £20 billion ($31bn).

Mansour, a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling Al-Nahyan family, has spent a reported £400 million on transfers since taking control of City in 2008 and has been rewarded by seeing the team qualify for this season’s Champions League and win the 2011 FA Cup.

The 2011/12 rich list, compiled by magazine FourFourTwo, reveals Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov is now wealthier than QPR shareholder Lakshmi Mittal, and moves up to second. The Russian is now reported to be worth £12.4 billion ($19bn), with Indian steel magnate Mittal slipping to third with a fortune of £11.8 billion ($18.2bn).

Chelsea’s Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, who was the first of a new breed of rich foreign owners to make an impact on the Premier League when he bought the Blues in 2003, only sits fourth on the list, despite the fact his fortune grew by £2.9 billion ($4.5bn) over the year to reach £10.3 billion ($16bn).

Malcolm Glazer, the controversial owner of Manchester United, has reportedly increased his fortune by £110 million ($170m) to remain ninth on the list.

Liverpool owner John W Henry, whose consortium completed their buy-out of the club just over a year ago, is the highest new entry on the list, with the American going in at 20th.

Former England captain David Beckham tops the player list with his wealth growing by £35 million ($54m) to give him a personal fortune of £135 million ($208.6m) according to the list, making him the wealthiest player on their list and 42nd overall.

Michael Owen and Rio Ferdinand remain second and third on the players’ list, with Ferdinand’s United team-mates Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney fourth and fifth respectively.

England boss Fabio Capello’s reported fortune of £3 8 million ($5.8m) puts him top of the managers list.

ESPN has signed a contract with the English Football Association (FA) for the exclusive TV rights for South America of the FA Cup, as well as matches of the English men’s national football team, the under 21 squad and the annual FA Community Shield match.

The contract includes TV, internet, broadband and mobile devices. The 2012-2013 championship starts on November 3 with a total of 59 matches, including the final.

ESPN will air the competition on conventional channels in live streaming and on demand on WatchESPN in Brazil and ESPNPlay.com in Latin America (in Spanish).

English Blue Square Premier League team Wrexham FC will receive new owners in the shape of their fans after a takeover deal was concluded.

Wrexham Supporters’ Trust (WST), which has been the preferred bidder, said it would take over the day-to-day running of the club on Tuesday.

Earlier, one of the club’s owners Geoff Moss threatened to talk to a rival unless he received a deposit by 17:00 BST.

A joint statement said a “suitable financial agreement has been reached”.

“The directors of Wrexham FC are delighted to annnounce that agreement has been reached with WST today to purchase the football club,” said the statement from the club. During this period Wrexham Supporters Trust will run the football club under a licence agreement pending approval by the football authorities.”

Spencer Harris, one of the WST’s directors, said the news was “fantastic” for fans, Wrexham and supporters in general. “We’re taking over the club as a going concern, breaking new ground in Wales and looking forward to a bright future.”

The deal will need to be approved by the Welsh FA and the Blue Square Premier League.

ESPN are reportedly close to signing an eight-year extension for Major League Baseball rights according to SportsBusiness Journal.

The deal estimated at $5.6B (an average of $700M per year), ambulance approximately doubling the nearly $306M ESPN currently pays MLB every year for domestic TV rights.

The new deal adds in digital, medicine international and radio, for which ESPN is paying MLB around $50M currently, sources said. Sources added the deal will be announced as soon as this afternoon. As part of the deal, which runs through 2021, ESPN retains the rights to “Sunday Night Baseball,” its Monday and Wednesday night games and highlights for “Baseball Tonight.” 

ESPN also will carry one Wild Card playoff game, sources said. In its current deal, ESPN does not have rights to any MLB playoffs. As part of the deal, ESPN adds more digital rights, the rights to show games in-progress and some radio and international rights. ESPN also picked up rights to carry games featuring more popular teams, like the Yankees and Red Sox, more frequently.