The England and Wales Cricket Board have announced today the appointment of Tom Harrison as its new Chief Executive Officer.

A former professional cricketer for Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, anesthetist Tom joins the ECB from the leading international sports marketing agency, IMG, where he was Head of Cricket and responsible for the IMG Media business in the UK and Ireland across all sports and all platforms.

During his time at IMG, Tom managed all IMG’s broadcaster relationships, their UK based federation relationships and has worked with cricket boards around the world overseeing global media rights sales for Cricket Australia, Cricket South Africa and the IPL.

Tom has significant relationships in Asia having worked for IMG’s media business in the Indian sub-continent for two years and for ESPN Star Sports in Singapore for four years prior to that. Tom will be returning to the ECB having worked for nearly four years for the organisation between January 2003 and December 2006 in various roles, latterly as Head of Marketing.

Chairman, Giles Clarke commented, “Tom has come through a rigorous recruitment process which included us meeting with candidates in leadership positions from cricket, other sports and from outside of the industry. He was the unanimous choice of the interview panel who were impressed with his energy, passion for the game and his positive, bold, creative and ambitious vision for the future of cricket in England and Wales.

“Tom has a proven track record of success in his career to date and a wealth of relevant experience both in the UK and internationally. His knowledge of both the professional and recreational game as a former first class cricketer and as a Premier League club captain of Teddington CC has provided him with great insight into the challenges and opportunities facing the game domestically. Finally, it was important to the panel that we chose a leader who would inspire all those connected with the game and in Tom, we believe we have found a leader with the charisma and vision to achieve this.”

Tom Harrison commented, “As a lifelong cricket fan, I feel extremely honoured and privileged to have been offered this opportunity to lead the ECB as its new Chief Executive Officer. I am a passionate supporter of the game across all formats, at all levels and I am genuinely excited by the substantial opportunities that the game has moving forward in this country.”

Tom will be fulfilling his contractual responsibilities at IMG and unavailable for further media comment until he officially begins his role with the ECB in mid-January.

League 13, an association of professional rugby league players within Super League, has revealed its concern for the fresh financial difficulties to hit the Bradford Bulls.

The club endured a difficult 2012 and just when it looked like things might finally be looking up for the fallen giants a new crisis has emerged.

The Bulls’ new owners said last week that £400,000 needs to be saved in order to rescue the Super League club once again, much to the dismay of supporters.

“League 13 is saddened to hear of the new financial difficulties that the Bradford Bulls are experiencing at the current time,” read a statement. “Although the club have already conducted meetings with the playing staff, League 13 has not been invited to take part in those meetings and, as a consequence, we have not been able to advise the players at this time.

“Following contact from our members at Bradford, we have now made contact with the club and the RFL this weekend and we hope to receive answers to a number of questions as a matter of urgency. Once these answers have been received, we will be in a position to advise the players fully and seek a resolution to this situation that benefits all parties.

“Like all those concerned with the game of rugby league, we had hoped that the difficulties experienced by the Bradford club in 2012 were a thing of the past. During the administration of the club at that time, League 13 helped to build a bridge between the players, the RFL and the club. We are determined to do so again.

“Nevertheless, the problems being experienced by Bradford only serve to highlight the paucity of money in Super League, despite the excellent product on the field.

“Following the success of the World Cup, the domestic game now needs a new direction to take advantage of the commercial opportunities available to it, so that financial trouble for clubs becomes a thing of the past and the players are properly rewarded for their outstanding skill, passion and bravery.”

Global motorsport marketing agency Just Marketing International (JMI) has announced it has sealed contracts with Sir Jackie Stewart, symptoms  OBE, and Niki Lauda to represent the Formula 1 legends.

Both these three-time world champions hold key positions in Formula One and have chosen JMI to represent their commercial interests, which will be provided by JMI’s international office in London.

Sir Jackie Stewart moves to JMI after a long association with IMG Worldwide that lasted more than 20 years. As well as winning the Formula One Drivers’ World Championship in 1969, 1971 and 1973, Sir Jackie was also a key figure in the implementation of many safety measures that are now taken for granted in motorsport.

Sir Jackie became a respected broadcaster on American television and was a consultant and spokesperson for the Ford Motor Company before returning to Formula 1 as the owner of the Stewart Grand Prix team. After selling his team to Ford in 2000, Sir Jackie took on more ambassadorial roles including HSBC and The Royal Bank of Scotland. Sir Jackie has also retained relationships with Rolex and Moët-Hennessy for 45 and 44 years respectively.

“I am very excited about joining JMI as they are deeply involved in motorsport at the highest level and for me, particularly in Formula One,” said Sir Jackie. “I had a very enjoyable and productive relationship with IMG for 45 years, but they are no longer in Formula One and therefore, my joining JMI is a very logical and practical engagement. I am looking forward to working with Zak Brown and David Webb, who I have known for many years, and their experience and relationships with Formula One are exactly what is required at this stage in my career.”

Niki Lauda won the Formula One Drivers’ World Championship in 1975, 1977, and 1984. He nearly won the title in 1976 following an epic duel with James Hunt, which was recently dramatised in the movie RUSH.

In addition to an illustrious racing career, Niki founded and ran two airlines, has written five books and acted as a consultant for Scuderia Ferrari, as well as team principal for Jaguar Racing. He is the non-executive chairman of the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team and works for German television network, RTL.

“I am delighted to be joining JMI,” said Niki. “I have long been aware of their work in Formula One and I am looking forward to being involved with some of their exciting projects.”

“Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda are legendary global figures within motorsport, so supporting them with their business endeavours is something everyone at JMI is really looking forward to,” said Zak Brown, CEO of JMI.

DAMAC Properties, malady the largest private developer of luxury real estate in the Middle East, has announced plans to develop an 18-hole PGA Championship Golf Course, to be named Trump International Golf Club, Dubai.

The 7,205-yard, par 71 course will be located just ten minutes from Sheikh Zayed Road and sits at the heart of the 28 million square foot‘Akoya by DAMAC’ master plan development – the launch of which was announced last week. Construction is already underway and the course will be ready for play next year.

Trump International Golf Club, Dubai will include a 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art club house and a luxurious Trump Spa & wellness centre, which will be managed to the highest standards by the Trump Organization.

“By collaborating with Donald Trump, we are bringing the most elite name in golf and international luxury real estate to Dubai,” said Hussein Sajwani, Chairman, DAMAC Properties. “This course will provide a unique challenge for golfers, while delivering the upmost luxury and refinement for which both DAMAC Properties and the Trump Organization have become renowned for.”

The Trump Organization already has 14 award winning courses under its ownership and management across the world, but this will be its first venture into Asia. The company’s latest course, Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has already been tagged as one of ‘The World’s Greatest Golf Courses’.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our portfolio of award-winning courses into Dubai with DAMAC Properties. Dubai is an incredible city that truly understands the meaning of luxury. Trump International Golf Club, Dubai will be built to world-class levels, exceeding all expectations – there will be nothing like it in the region and beyond,” said Donald J. Trump, Chairman & President of The Trump Organization.

Silverstone, home to the Formula One British Grand Prix has revealed it has planned to introduce improvements to its traffic management scheme and infrastructure in a bid to avoid a repeat of the travel chaos caused by heavy rain at this year’s GP.

A period of persistent wet weather in the build-up to July’s showpiece event, and throughout the opening two days of the meeting, caused campsites and grass car parks to become waterlogged, while surrounding roads became gridlocked.

This led to the unprecedented step of advising ticket holders with passes for the car parks to stay away from Saturday’s qualifying day so organisers could repair the ground in preparation for arrivals on race day.

Silverstone had promised to roll out improvements for 2013 and on Tuesday announced the changes that will be put in place for next summer’s event.

The Park and Ride scheme will be expanded and for the first time run over all three days of the grand prix weekend, shuttle services from local train stations will also be increased while investment will also be made in improving the venue’s non-tarmacked car parks.

Silverstone’s official Woodlands campsite will also be increased by 70 acres in order to provide a better fan experience and a holding area for cars away from the main roads.

Richard Phillips, Silverstone Circuits Managing Director, said: “For more than 10 years now, fans have had little or no issue getting in and out of the circuit for the British Grand Prix, so it’s important to keep the problems of this year in perspective.

“That said, the traffic issues on the Friday of this year’s event, and having to ask a number of fans to stay away on the Saturday, were far from ideal. We have learned from this year’s experience and are taking steps to ensure we’re better equipped to deal with whatever the weather may throw at us in future.”

Although 10,000 ticket holders didn’t attend on the Friday and Saturday – which Silverstone has now confirmed cost the venue £1 million in refund claims – a record crowd still turned up on race day and Phillips is confident the full three days will run more smoothly in 2013.

“Given the extreme weather conditions and position we found ourselves in on the Friday, I don’t think race day could have gone much better,” said Phillips.

“The sun shone, we had a great race and I’m delighted that we were able to get more than 127,000 people in and out of the circuit safely.

“We are confident that we won’t see a repeat of the events of this year. Tickets for next year’s British Grand Prix are selling reasonably well and we’re already looking forward to what will be a fantastic three days of world class F1 action and entertainment.”

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) former Chairman, health Ijaz Butt believes Pakistan should ask the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) to compensate it financially for the cancelled series in 2009.

Butt said: “It is a good thing that finally the Board of Control for Cricket in India has invited Pakistan to play a short series this year in India. But my concern is, online the PCB needs to gain something more out of the series than the resumption of ties.”

The PCB has already accepted the invitation from the BCCI to tour India in December to play three-match One-Day International series and two Twenty20 matches.

A PCB spokesperson said that Pakistan would not discuss “sharing of revenue generation for the series as its only interest was to see bilateral cricket ties revived.”{jcomments on}

NFL team Minnesota Vikings, buy will stay in Minnesota following the Senate approving a bill Thursday that will provide $498 million in public money for the construction of a new stadium on the site of the Metrodome.

The bill was expected to be signed by Gov. Mark Dayton, cialis the bill’s most fervent champion. The stadium is expected to be ready for the 2016 season.

The Vikings agreed to increase their contribution for building costs by $50 million to $477 million. The $975 million price tag is for a fixed roof stadium. If the team decides to choose a more expensive retractable roof, it will pick up the additional cost. The state’s share of the stadium contribution — about $348 million — will come from expanded gambling options. An additional $150 million will come from a Minneapolis hospitality tax.

The Vikings’ lease at the Metrodome ended in January and only a few weeks ago, the stadium plan seemed in peril because of significant resistance to the public contribution at a time of shrinking state budgets.

The Vikings are the second N.F.L. team this year to receive approval for a new stadium. The San Francisco 49ers broke ground in April on a stadium in Santa Clara that they expect to be ready for the 2014 season.

With the Vikings staying put, the focus will shift to other teams that might move if Los Angeles settles on a stadium plan, although that does not seem imminent. The St. Louis Rams, the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders have problematic stadium issues and could be candidates. The Jaguars are also a possibility, but the new owner, Shad Khan, has said he is committed to Jacksonville.