United Kingdom

Value Partners, the European management and IT consulting group headquartered in Milan, is to merge with leading UK consultancy Spectrum Strategy Consultants.

England Netball, the game’s governing body in England, accepted the resignation of Chief executive, Leslie Ross. Ms Ross, who joined the organisation in May 06, will leave her position at the end of March 07 to return to the private sector.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) will meet this weekend to discuss the possible use of goal-line technology.

Servecast, the broadband video specialists for the sports and media industries, signed a new deal with Scottish Premier league Club, Celtic for advanced video streaming services until the end of the 2008-09 season.

Scottish Premier League club Hearts signed a club sponsorship deal with Umbro.

According to research from Ipsos MORI’s Sportscan, the UK sport sponsorship market has topped £450 million for the first time. The estimated market size for 2006 was £451 million, an increase of 5.37 per cent on 2005.

UK bookmaker Blue Square agreed a deal to become headline sponsor of the UK Open Darts Championships.

The average attendance in the Premier League has dropped, despite increased capacity at Arsenal and Manchester United, amid predictions that clubs will have to instigate ticket price cuts next season.

Edelman, the world’s largest independently owned public relations firm, and VERO, a specialist sport, brand and communications consultancy, agreed a strategic alliance that will offer existing and potential clients of both firms a powerful combination of expertise.

UK hospitality company Cavendish is suing Sodexho Prestige’s Ascot Hospitality operation, for misrepresentation and breach of contract over an £890,000 contract to use the prestigious Parade Ring Restaurant at Ascot on three days in June last year.

English Premier League soccer club Manchester City has confirmed it is in talks with investors which could lead to a possible offer for the club.

Organisers of the Wimbledon tennis championships have confirmed they will offer equal prize payments to men and women this year – bringing it in line with the other Grand Slams.

The chief executive of Saatchi & Saatchi UK has quit the advertising giant to become the new group commercial director of English Premiership giants Manchester United.

English Premiership soccer club Arsenal has almost doubled its turnover after moving to its new Emirates Stadium.

A warm-up event planned to test organisation at the new Wembley Stadium in London has been delayed – but officials insist soccer showpiece the FA Cup Final will still be staged at the venue in May.

Financial firm Barclays has confirmed it will continue as title sponsor of the European Tour’s Scottish Open.