Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has increased the level of his personal investment in Europe’s biggest golf club rental firm, vialis 40mg ClubstoHire.com, in which he was a founding investor in 2010.

He has also committed to represent the Dublin-based enterprise -with its 21 locations across the Mediterranean and South Africa – in a promotional capacity for the next seven years.

“I’m really excited about what the future holds for ClubstoHire, given the speed at which the business has grown over the past four years,” said McGinley, who recently presented the company’s 125,000th customer with a new set of golf clubs and bag. “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to increase my investment in such an innovative company that is intent on getting more people playing golf at a reasonable cost in different locations across the world.”

This renewed commitment to the award-winning business will see McGinley continue to work closely with ClubstoHire co-founders and fellow Irishmen Gerry McKiernan and Tony Judge. “We’re absolutely thrilled that Paul has increased his investment in the company,” said CEO Judge. “He’s incredibly passionate about ClubstoHire and his international profile and business acumen will be of even more help to us as we look to grow in new markets like Dubai and the Far East.”

The MotoGP World Championship is set to head to Wales after the commercial rights holders, Dorna Sports S.L agreed a deal to host the British round at the Circuit of Wales.

The contract will begin in 2015 with a five-year deal with the option for further five year extension.

The Circuit of Wales near Ebbw Vale is currently under development. The £280 million project will develop a purpose-built hub for the multi-billion pound British motorsport industry around a state-of-the art track.

“Our agreement with Dorna is a significant landmark in the development of the Circuit of Wales,” said Michael Carrick, Chief Executive of the Circuit of Wales. “MotoGP is the pinnacle of global motorcycle racing and expectations within the series and of its millions of fans worldwide are for a truly world class event at iconic and state-of-the art venues. We look forward to meeting those expectations when we welcome MotoGP to Wales from 2016 and we are now working closely with Dorna and the FIM, MotoGP’s governing body, with regard to the 2015 British round of the MotoGP World Championship.”

Carmelo Ezpeleta, the Chief Executive Officer of Dorna Sport S.L., commented: “We are excited to be working closely with the Circuit of Wales after being involved with the project for more than four years. The commitment to MotoGP is obviously a catalyst to a wide range of exciting projects aimed at contributing to the regeneration of the area, while we work together with MotoGP governing body the FIM in relation to the full homologation of the circuit.”

The first phase of the multi-purpose development will be the construction of an international specification motor racing circuit and world championship facilities, hotel, commercial and retail complexes. The facility is designed to host international motorsport events and will be a centre for motorsport-related industries.

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The former CEO of Microsoft Steve Ballmer is now officially the new owner of National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise LA Clippers, capsule NBA announced on Tuesday. 

The NBA Board of Governors had previously approved the $2 billion deal, which was officially and quickly closed after a California court issued an order confirming the authority of Shelly Sterling to sell the team on behalf of the Sterling Family Trust, the league said.

Shelly Sterling was the sole trustee after her husband, Donald Sterling, was found mentally incapacitated by two doctors and subsequently removed as a co-trustee.

An NBA statement read: “The transaction in which Steve Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers closed today following the entry of an order by a California court confirming the authority of Shelly Sterling, on behalf of the Sterling Family Trust, to sell the team.

“The NBA Board of Governors previously approved the sale and Ballmer is now the Clippers Governor.”

Ballmer was delighted with the news and said in a statement: “I am humbled and honored to be the new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.

“Clipper fans are so amazing. They have remained fiercely loyal to our franchise through some extraordinary times. I will be hard core in giving the team, our great coach, staff and players the support they need to do their best work on the court. And we will do whatever necessary to provide our fans and their families with the best game-night experience in the NBA.”

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Former Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) and Premier League executive Oliver Weingarten has launched a new sports advisiory company called OW Advisory Limited.

The new venture will offer offer clients a “one-stop shop” for issues which often crossover.

Weingarten, who will be CEO of the organisation, revealed the company will offer sports business advice, lobbying/ public policy assistance and can help boost fan engagement and fan events.

OW Advisory will look to attract sports organisations, or businesses associated with sport, whether that be those providing legal, financial or commercial services.

The former Secretary General of FOTA added: “In respect of the fan engagement, I am keen to offer up my experience to other event organisers, whilst continuing to work with F1 circuits.

“However, in respect of the lobbying offering, there is no restriction on the sort of business I can work with, given my previous experience lobbying across the world, and also working with the creative industries.”

Formula 1 team Caterham are set to counter-sue a number of former employees and their representatives following their dismissal. 

A statement on Monday revealed that a number of axed employees were commencing legal action against the team, claiming unfair dismissal and that Caterham had reneged on promises that they would be paid in July. 

Caterham has now responded that the accusations in the statement were incorrect and that it would be seeking compensation for damages. 

“Caterham F1 Team has read with great concern recent reports about a group of individuals who are claiming unfair dismissal from the Formula 1 team following its takeover by new owners,” a team statement read. 

“The team is now taking legal action against those parties representing the individuals concerned, and each person involved, seeking compensation for the damages suffered by the team due to the gross misrepresentation of the facts made by all those concerned. 

“These claims include the statement that they have been released from Caterham F1 Team – this is incorrect. Caterham F1 Team’s staff are employed by a company that is a supplier to the company that holds its F1 licence, the licence that allows it to compete in the Formula 1 World Championship. 

“Additionally, the team has read claims that its staff were not paid in July – again, this is wholly untrue. Every individual currently employed by Caterham F1 Team was paid their July salary in full on 25th July, one week before it is formally due on the last day of the month, in this case 31st July. 

“A formal request for the withdrawal of the relevant press statement issued on 28th July has been made by Caterham F1 Team and the team will vigorously pursue its action against all those concerned. However, it will not allow its core focus to be distracted from achieving tenth place in the 2014 Formula 1 World Championship, and building for the 2015 campaign and beyond.”

Former Staff Not Deterred

The former employees reacted to Caterham’s claims by suggesting Caterham was the company employing them.

In a statement released to the press on Wednesday the group said: “As confirmed in the contracts of employment for those working in the Caterham F1 Team, Caterham F1 is ‘the trading name of the employer and the name of its motor racing team entered into the F1 world championship’.

“All those dismissed were employed in the Caterham F1 Team by their operational company Caterham Sports Limited (company number 07042086, previously 1Malaysia Racing Team (UK) Limited).

“The dismissal letters were on Caterham F1 Team headed notepaper and the reason for dismissal was given as: ‘following the change in ownership and, as a result of the current financial position that the new owners have inherited, your position at Caterham Sports Ltd will terminate with immediate effect… You are being dismissed in law for Some Other Substantial Reason.’

“The summary dismissal of employees from Caterham was done without warning or consultation, which is a breach of employment laws and will result in significant compensation claims.

“Lawyers [acting] for those who have been dismissed wrote to Caterham on 25 July 2014 urging a response to the above matters and inviting settlement.

“A response from Caterham to this letter is awaited.”

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank is ‘optimistic’ that the NFL will have a franchise in London in the future and even suggested it could be more than one. 

The Falcons gave up one of their home games in 2014 to play in London which will be apart of three games in the city this year. Blank believes the NFL’s European expansion is only just beginning to escalate.

“The games in London, I think are a tribute to the NFL, a tribute to the fans there, the quality of the game — and I think that it’s proved conclusive that fans will come out when they see the real players playing games that are really meaningful, as opposed to NFL Europe,” Blank told The MMQB’s Peter King. “So I think — and all three of the games for 2014 sold out immediately, 240,000 tickets — the league, as you know, has been in discussion about a fourth game, in discussion about games beyond that. There’s been discussion about potentially having a franchise in London. I’m very optimistic.”

Blank sees adding games in London as just the start. The owner imagines that, in the future, London could be home to at least one NFL team.

“I think it will start with an increased number of games,” he said. “That will be translated into a very successful series of games, and eventually, I think a franchise. And maybe more than one. London’s a big city.”

The severity of the cricket scandals in India have broken new ground after reports have suggested Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra has confessed to betting.

Delhi Police chief Neeraj Kumar confirmed that Kundra (pictured, left), who is married to Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty (pictured, right), had admitted to placing bets. 

Kundra, according to the Delhi Police chief, has told the police that he lost money after placing bets on his own team.

The Delhi top cop said that Raj Kundra admitted to betting through bookie Umesh Goenka. Kundra has already had his passport seized by the cops who have told him not to leave the country till the IPL spot-fixing probe is over. 

“We have seized Kundra’s passport so he doesn’t go out of the country till the spot-fixing probe is over. We will be questioning him further,” a police official said. 

Kundra, who is a British national, has businesses in Dubai, Ukraine and Botswana. 

“Kundra’s role is very important in the Rajasthan Royals team. We are yet to decide on his arrest. It will be known only after further questioning,” the official added. 

According to police, Kundra’s business partner Umesh Goenka might be questioned again in connection with the spot-fixing case. 

Delhi Police have arrested 26 people in the case, including S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, part of the Rajasthan Royals team. 

“Kundra told police that he owned 11.7 percent while Suresh Chelaram, the brother-in-law of Lalit Modi, owned 43 percent and Manoj Badale has 34 percent. Rupert Murdoch`s son Lalchan Murdoch also has stake in the team,” a senior police official said.

Related News:

BCCI President Steps Down, Dalmiya Takes Interim Position 

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