David Bernstein and Sir Mervyn King have departed their respective roles at Aston Villa.

It’s believed they have departed their roles on the club’s board with immediate effect.

In a Statement on the Aston Villa website the club said:

“It is with regret that Aston Villa Football Club today announces the resignations of Mervyn King and David Bernstein as directors of the Club.”

“The Club would like to thank both for all their efforts throughout their short time as members of the Board.”

“A search to appoint a new manager remains a priority.”

“The Chairman, Steve Hollis, is currently engaged in extensive negotiations in relation to the sale of the Club.”

“Brian Little will continue to advise the Chairman on all football related matters.”

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The World Lottery Association and European Lottery Association have signed an agreement with the International Sports Convention (ISC) 2016. The ISC takes place on December 7-8, vialis 40mg 2016 in Geneva, ed Switzerland.

Many in the World of Sport are unaware of the vital contribution and significant role Lotteries have played in the sustainable financing of grassroots sport and social projects in Sport.

Having a strong base at the pyramid of Sport is essential for the long term and sustained Sports development as well as a strong sports business industry. Indeed, medic supporting sports and mainly grassroots sport has always been part of the traditional lottery model.

Feeling that match-fixing undermines the credibility of modern sport and as the traditional allies of sport, Lotteries could not stay idle in the fight for sports integrity.

The World Lottery Association (WLA) and European Lottery Association (EL) will play a significant role in The Sports Integrity Conference and also have speakers and representatives in other conferences.

In total there will be 18 sports conferences over 2 days and 3000 delegates. A combined delegation of WLA/EL members will be about 200 persons, indicating the significance of the WLA, EL and ISC cooperation.

Nigel Fletcher, CEO of The International Sports Convention states: “We look forward to welcoming The World Lotteries Association and The European Lotteries Association including many of its members. The significant role they are both playing in maintaining the integrity and high ethics of sport is paramount for the future of Sport”.

Jean-Luc Moner-Banet, President of the WLA and CEO of Loterie Romande, Switzerland said: “Integrity and transparency is at the very heart of the games offered by the global lottery community and in particular when it comes to sports betting. Without the guarantee of integrity that we can give to our authorities, our players and the sports associations that organize the competitions – the medium of our bets – there would be no games of chance.

“The initiative to participate in the International Sports Convention (ISC) 2016 will contribute to share our core values with the sports sphere and to fight against anything that threaten the integrity of our bets, notably the manipulation of sports results.”

Hansjörg Höltkemeier, President of the European Lottery Association (EL) and Member of the Managing Board of Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin, states: “We are excited about this new collaboration with the International Sport Convention (ISC) regarding the organization of a Sports Integrity Conference on 7 December 2016.

“Without any doubt, match-fixing is the greatest threat modern sport is confronted with and EL and WLA have been extremely active in the fight against the phenomenon and have taken numerous actions against it. EL, WLA and the ISC will work hard in order to develop an interesting programme and we are confident that this Conference will provide a unique platform for discussions and exchange of ideas and will take the fight for sports integrity onto a higher level.”

European Lotteries (EL) is the European umbrella organisation of national lotteries operating games of chance for the public benefit. EL has members from 45 European countries including all 28 EU Member States.

The association’s Members contribute more than 20 billion € p.a. to the state budgets and the funding of sport, culture, social projects, research and other causes of general interest. The annual contribution to sports reaches the level of 2.5 billion Euros, of which grassroots sport is the main beneficiary.  Unlike many commercial online gambling operators, EL members only offer gambling and betting services in the jurisdictions in which they are licensed by the respective national government (in the jurisdiction where the consumer is located).

For more on EL, please visit their website at: www.european-lotteries.org

About The World Lottery Association

The World Lottery Association (WLA) is an international, member-based organization of state-authorized lotteries and suppliers to the global lottery industry. Its mission is to advance the collective interests of its members and to facilitate their development through the provision of a range of lottery-related services, such as internationally recognized lottery sector standards.

WLA Lottery Members are organizations licensed or authorized to conduct lotteries or sports betting operations in a jurisdiction domiciled in a state recognized by the United Nations. The majority of their net revenues must be dedicated to supporting the public good.

As stipulated by the WLA Code of Conduct, all WLA Member Lotteries may only sell their products to consumers within the jurisdiction in which they are licensed. WLA Associate Members are suppliers of goods and services to the lottery or sports betting industries whose business practices conform to the aims and objectives of the association. Currently, there are 152 WLA Lottery Members and 71 WLA Associate Members drawn from over 80 countries spanning five continents.

For more on the World Lottery Association, please visit their website at:   www.world-lotteries.org

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION – December 7-8, 2016 – Geneva, Switzerland.

World’s largest sports convention including 18 sports conferences over 2 days, a combined exhibition, 200 speakers and 3000+ delegates. www.iscgeneva.com

In a global press conference held in Las Vegas, cough the home of UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, released event dates and locations for an entire calendar year of 2015 for the first time.

Event dates, locations and main event headliners due to take place during the next 90 days, were revealed by UFC President Dana White and UFC Chairman & CEO Lorenzo Fertitta who sat alongside some of the UFC’s top athelets at the global press conference.

The unveiled 2015 schedule includes 13 numbered events and 32 UFC Fight Nights, which is broken down into 13 events on Pay-Per-View, four UFC Fight Nights on FOX, 18 UFC Fight Nights on FOX Sports 1 and 10 events exclusively live on UFCFIGHTPASS.com. For more information visit: UFC.

Specifically for Europe, Middle East and Africa, the UFC is planning to increase the number of events in 2015 focusing on targeting returns to successful markets such as UK, Ireland, Germany, and Sweden and highlighting potential new markets including Holland, Poland and Russia, plus a possible return to Abu Dhabi.

First on the roster for EMEA in 2015 is the highly anticipated UFC FIGHT NIGHT: GUSTAFSSON vs. JOHNSON. History will be made when Swedish superstar and No. 1 ranked light heavyweight contender Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson meets No. 3 ranked knockout artist Anthony “Rumble” Johnson on Saturday, Jan. 24 in Stockholm, Sweden to determine the next UFC^® light heavyweight title challenger.

The bout will take place in front of more than 30,000 fans at the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm, marking just the second major stadium event in UFC history and the first in Europe, with tickets on sale Friday 28th November.

Approximately half of the 2015 events will happen in the US, with six events scheduled to take place in Las Vegas. Canada will host 3-5 events with target markets such as Toronto, Montreal and Calgary, Latin America will host two events with a return to Mexico City. Brazil will deliver seven events including 1 pay per view, while Australia will host 1-2 events. Asia’s target markets are Japan, China, Philippines and Korea and will host 2-3 events.

Japanese football legend Hidetoshi Nakata has joined the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games as a Global Ambassador.

Nakata, anabolics considered one of the most famous Asian footballer’s of his generation, health will support Special Olympics’ efforts in promoting acceptance, bronchi inclusion and respect for people with intellectual disabilities by promoting participation and inclusion in Special Olympics Unified Sports and attending the Games in Los Angeles.

“Through unified sports, Special Olympics is breaking down barriers that exist for people with intellectual disabilities,” Hidetoshi Nakata said.

“And being able to help inspire others to join the movement, get involved and help put an end to the issues of isolation and discrimination is a remarkable feeling.”

Cornish Pirates owner Dicky Evans has revealed he plans to step aside at the end of the season, though he will continue to contribute towards financing the team.

Evans has been involved with the rugby team since 1994. He now intends to sell 150 shares in the Championship club and has made a committment to provide £400,000 on a two-year rolling basis.

In a statement on the Pirates website, Evans said: “We need to alter the ownership of the club in readiness for the next push as I’m not getting younger.

“I have to think of my family for a change, four people who have been incredibly supportive of me,” he added.

“I intend to step aside, not down, at the end of the season as the owner of the company and hand over ownership to the many superb friends and supporters who follow the team.

“Consequently, over the next eight months to the end of this current financial year we need to develop a plan to enable friends and supporters of the Cornish Pirates worldwide to take ownership through a basic share issue format.

“They will be taking over a company clear of all loans and debt – paying a nominal £1 for the whole shareholding.”

Since Evans arrival at the club, the Pirates have risen through the rugby leagues, but have been frustrated in their attempts to reach the Premiership. Evans believes the club need a new stadium in a central location in order to reach that next level. The club have played in Kenwyn and Camborne in the last ten years, and are currently based in Mennaye Field in Penzance. 

Evans continued: “This is the next major step in securing our future. The stadium will come eventually and it’s essential that the Cornish Pirates are in a position to move to the centre of Cornwall and consolidate on the business and spectator support available there, witnessed by the year we spent at Kenwyn – our most successful year at this level financially.

“The rugby will be of the highest calibre possible within the budget constraints that are always with us and the party atmosphere will continue both home and away.

“Cornish people deserve a top-class sporting team and venue – we have the ability to produce the former and as each obstacle to a stadium is surmounted there is no doubt that will come.”