RUGBY Football League officials have appointed a career sports administrator with a special interest in media as their new chief executive.
Forty-four-year-old Ian Nolan, formerly of Manchester United, beat a field that included Australian Tony Mestrov and player agent Grahame Taylor.
Nolan is credited with negotiating Yahoo Sports’ Premier League deal.
Nolan was not quoted in the media release announcing his appointment, with RFL chair Nigel Wood instead saying: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Ian to the Rugby League.
“Amid a field of top-class candidates, he emerged as the person best placed to take us forward during a pivotal time for the sport.
“Ian’s skillset and vast experience in the global, digital market, including an influential seven years at Manchester United, will complement what we already have within the RFL.
“With his fresh ideas and dynamism, this appointment is the most significant as we continue to turnaround the sport’s fortunes and put revenues back onto an upward trajectory after the past few years.
“There is so much to be proud of in our game here with the best-ever Magic Weekend just a few days ago – a brilliant occasion attended by more than 80,000 people – a case in point.
“Ian’s appointment is the first step in a bold and ambitious new strategy; he has a wealth of experience in the growth and commercialisation of sports, media and sports rights, plus an impressive track record of leveraging digital, social and modern media platforms to accelerate growth into global markets.”
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