Sports Management Q2 2012 - Leisure Opportunities

NEWS AND JOBS UPDATED DAILY ONLINE ATWWW.SPORTSMANAGEMENT.CO.UKQueen’s University in Belfast,Northern Ireland, has openednew outdoor facilities atUpper Malone playing fields,following a £20m investmentin its sports provision.The project is designed toestablish the institution asone of the leading sports universitiesin Ireland, with thefacilities available to studentsand the local community.At the centre of the projectwas the construction of theArena Pitch, one of the onlypitches in the UK and Irelandto accommodate football,rugby and Gaelic Games on a single site.The opening of the facilities marks the completionof a £13m second phase of work, whichhas also included 14 additional pitches and aspectator stand adjoining a new stand.More than 20 changing rooms and additionalchanging facilities to the south of theThe new Arena Pitch can host football, rugby and gaelic games matchessite have been provided, along with a strengthand conditioning suite.Work on the outdoor facilities comes afterthe first £7m phase was completed in 2006,which included the expansion of the university’sPhysical Education Centre at Botanic.Details: http://lei.sr?a=e5m0wManufacturer & Supplier ofPRODUCTS FORSPORT2012/13CATALOGUEOUT NOWNew research released by corporaterecovery specialistsBegbies Traynor has foundthat nearly one-fifth of allEnglish Football League clubsare currently showing signs of“financial ill-health”.The research comes amidongoing financial problemsaffecting Portsmouth and PortVale football clubs, as well asthe Scottish Premier Leagueside, Glasgow Rangers.According to the Red FlagAlert survey, three clubs in thenpower Championship; sixin npower League One; and four in npowerLeague Two are facing financial trouble.Begbies Traynor partner Gerald Krasnersaid: “Football as an industry suffers from anenormous financial gap between the PremierLeague and the Football League.An audit of sports facilities within Scotland’sschool estate, together with public access tosuch facilities, has been commissioned bynational sports agency sportscotland.It is the first stage in a process by the agencyto establish up-to-date data that details thePortsmouth’s financial difficulties have been well-documented“One effect of this disparity is that FootballLeague clubs are often tempted to overspendon players to try to gain promotion [to thePremier League] and the promised riches andprestige that come with it.”Details: http://lei.sr?a=i0k4vavailability and usage of sports facilities, aswell as potential barriers around future use.Improved public access to school sportsfacilities is one of sportscotland’s main prioritiesoutlined in its four-year plan, which runsuntil the end of 2015.Issue 2 2012 © cybertrek 2012 13image: ben sutherlandCall our sales team on01502710039markharrod.com