The Rugby Football League (RFL) has revealed proposed changes to the structure of the Super League and Championship that could see the return of automatic promotion and relegation.

Three other plans to restructure the divisions have also been suggested, sale with two leagues of 12 teams, drug being divided into three divisions of eight midway through the season being the most radical change proposed.

Other options include a 12-team Super League and a 10 or 12-team Championship, with one club promoted and relegated, or a two-division Super League with 10 teams.

RFL CEO Nigel Wood said: “The interest already shown in these ideas has been very encouraging and I believe these new proposals will produce positive change and innovation across the whole sport.

“I do believe that we need to create a pathway into Super League but it is essential that we are mindful of the challenges that a straight re-introduction of promotion and relegation between part-time and full-time leagues would create.

“Whilst there is a recognition that the time is right for change, we fully understand the need to avoid destabilising the excellent progress that has been made in recent years.

“Consequently, addressing sustainable opportunities for clubs to progress has been at the forefront of our thinking and the reason why we have included a bold new approach to league structures within the Policy Review.”

Wood put the proposal to Super League club representatives 10 days ago and clubs will vote later in the year.

No changes will be made until the start of the 2015 season due to licensing periods.

The most radical option would see two divisions of 12 in the Super League and teams would play each other once, making up 11 fixtures, before splitting into groups of eight at the half way stage.

Teams would then play each other home and away to add 14 more matches.

This option would see a play-off series to concludes the season, with a Grand Final or play-off final determining the two 12-team divisions the following year.

Authorities in Rio de Janeiro are considering a bid to rename the Joao Havelange stadium after the former head and honorary president of FIFA stepped down from his role after a report accused him of taking bribes.

The stadium is known locally as Engenhao and will host the 2016 Olympics, but not the World Cup in 2014.

The bill proposes the stadium be renamed to Joao Saldanha, after the former national football team manager and says that Havelange is ‘unworthy’ after the FIFA scandal.

Renato Cinco, city councillor and one of the bill’s authors said: “The name Joao Havelange is today linked to fraud investigations and scandals at FIFA.

“It doesn’t make sense for a city which is going to host the World Cup and Olympic Games have the name of its stadium with this reference.”

Havelange, who was the head of FIFA before current president Sepp Blatter, was accused of taking money from the collapsed sports marketing company ISL.

Saldanha, who died in 1990, was an avid fan of Botafogo who are the current lease-holders of the stadium.

The signing of controversial striker Marion Balotelli will not affect AC Milan’s commercial brand according to the club’s Organizing Director, no rx Umberto Gandini.

Balotelli signed for the Serie A club from English Premier League champions Manchester City, discount and leaves behind a series of training ground bust-ups and other controversial episodes.

Speaking exclusively to iSportconnect however, Gandini said he does not expect the signing to negatively affect the image of the AC Milan brand. He said: “We brought back the starting centre forward of the Italian National Team because he is a strong player who can help us on the pitch right away.

“Any commercial consequence will be welcome, but merely a consequence. We do not acquire players for commercial purposes. But his arrival would hopefully help the team to win games which will assist the brand commercially. And that is our target.”

Milan started selling Balotelli shirts on their official website before the signing had officially gone through and Gandini revealed that Milan were hoping to profit from shirt sales: “More than 400 shirts have been sold overnight on our website worldwide , so the start is promising.

“However, it’s too early to say, but I am sure we will start to see a new AC Milan shirt number 45, around the world soon!”

Balotelli signed for AC Milan in a deal worth upwards of €20m ($27m). Replica AC Milan shirts with the striker’s name and number on the back are being sold for €82 ($111).

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Location: Woodall Spa, UK

Closing Date: 26th September

Overview:

Heading up a Communications, Marketing and PR team, the Communications and Marketing Director will provide strategic and operational direction.

The Communications and Marketing Director will work closely with the Chief Executive to plan, develop and support the organisational strategic plan and ‘improve the image and promote the benefits of golf in England’. The successful candidate must have strong managerial skills and a wide range of communication, marketing and/or PR experience. You will be working to drive the organisation forward, building on the recent development of a digital strategy and supporting the annual plan as well as the strategic plan.

The ability to think creatively and deliver effective communications and marketing strategies, utilising appropriate tools and maximising the online presence are key skills. You will need to demonstrate a Commercial mind-set and ability to meet our Commercial needs. The Communications and Marketing team works across the organisation, supporting all areas of the business and you must be able to quickly understand the nuances of a membership based and not-for-profit organisation and the pressures each area of the business faces.

Working Relationships: Internal:

· Chief Executive Officer – monthly meetings and regular communication. · Board – attendance when required.

· Heads of Department – management meetings and across annual delivery plan.

· Staff – Communication and Marketing across departments.

External:

· Communications, marketing, digital and PR agencies –regular communication and meetings. · England Golf commercial/sponsorship partners – negotiating and managing contracts and ensuring the receipt and delivery of agreed rights

· County Unions & Associations – communication with county secretary and Executive.

· The R&A, Professional Golfers Association (PGA) andGolf Foundation · Clubs – communication through club managers, captains and volunteers.

· Governing and industry bodies – sharing experience and good practice. Main Duties and Key

Responsibilities:

· To lead England Golf’s strategic Communications andMarketing work by improving the image and promoting the benefits of golf inEngland.

· To lead and support England Golf with their communication and marketing requirements and ensure consistent planning and alignment of activity resulting in integrated communications solutions that will assist those Managers/teams to meet company objectives.

· To oversee and manage England Golf’s Communications andMarketing budget.

· To build and develop a Communications and Marketing team which is competent, commercially astute, dedicated and efficient.

How to Apply

To apply please download, complete and return the application form and equal opportunities monitoring form (HERE) for the attention of Human Resources on hr@englandgolf.org.

UK broadcaster Channel 4 has acquired the free-to-air rights to Formula One in the UK after the BBC opted to cancel its contract three years early.

Channel 4 has signed a three-year deal with F1 that will begin in 2016, after beating off competition from ITV.

Speculation was rife recently that the BBC would be terminating its contract with the sport as part of uts to its sports rights division.

In November, F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone rejected the BBC’s request to renegotiate its existing contract, saying the broadcaster must honour its contract. 

Despite finally agreeing to the BBC’s request, Ecclestone is likely to demand a termination fee from the corporation which could be several millions of pounds. 

The BBC’s shared F1 deal with Sky Sports, worth £12m a year, was not due to expire until 2018 but they were determined to save as much of that money as possible. 

Ecclestone said: “I am sorry that the BBC could not comply with their contract but I am happy that we now have a broadcaster that can broadcast Formula One events without commercial intervals during the race.

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By Christian Radnedge

Just days after terrorist attacks in Paris including some near the Stade de France, a similar situation was thwarted on Tuesday evening as a friendly between Germany Netherlands was cancelled due to a suspicious package being found.

Around 90 minutes before kick-off, the Hannover Stadium was evacuated and local reports suggested a device had been found near an ambulance.

Later, Hannover police chief Volker Kluwe warned of a “concrete danger situation throughout Hannover”. He added: “We have had concrete evidence that someone wanted to detonate an explosive device at the stadium.”

Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel had been scheduled to attend the game which had been cleared only after lengthy discussions between the Interior Ministry and security directors in light of events in Paris.

Merkel had arrived in the city but had not set out for the stadium.

Hannover Mayor Stefan Schostok said: “Safety is paramount. This is a fear that you will always have. I trust the police that they have made the right decision. If a threat situation exists then these are the steps which must be taken.”

Meanwhile, 71,223 turned out at Wembley to see England take on France in a significant match that saw the home crowd proudly present the Tricolore and join in singing La Marseillaise before kick-off.

Floral tributes were brought to the field by England manager Roy Hodgson, France manager Didier Deschamps and Prince William in honour of the 129 victims of the attacks in the French capital. UK Prime Minister David Cameron was also in attendance.

On Monday, the Belgium FA confirmed that their proposed friendly with Spain on Tuesday had been cancelled due to a perceived security threat.

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