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 Professional
Squash Association
News from the governing body of the Men's Tour |
21-Jan-10:
Nicol departs PSA Board
Peter Nicol, MBE, has resigned as a Director and member of the PSA
Board.
 In
his letter of resignation to the Board, Peter advised:
"After long thought, I have decided to submit my resignation from the
PSA Board. I intend to devote my professional career to promoting the
game of squash, and I believe that the best way I can do so is through
increased tournament exposure and general involvement in the game. This
is saddening to me as I’ve enjoyed working on the Board over the past
couple of years and especially as the Association is set for an exciting
and prosperous future.
"I would like to thank and congratulate Sheila (Cooksley), Alex (Gough)
and Lee (Beachill) for their wonderful work over the past period which
has put the Association in the position it is in today. Never in my
20-year involvement with the PSA have I felt so optimistic about the
future of game and this is largely due to work the above mentioned
people have done."
PSA Chairman, Ziad Al Turki, stated that it was with regret that Peter’s
resignation was accepted: "Both of us were elected at the same time in
October in 2008 and have been party to perhaps the most revolutionary
changes in the PSA Tour for the past ten years. Peter’s contribution to
these decisions to move the PSA forward have been invaluable and with
his considerable expertise in the squash world he has brought many
skills to the PSA Board meetings.
"Because of Peter’s considerable involvement in the world of Squash he
will still be very much part of this new vision of the PSA World Tour."
PSA TV is born
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Australian Open returns as 2010 PSA
Super Series firms up
 The Australian Open marks its return as a major event on the PSA World
Tour as one of ten tournaments comprising the 2010 PSA Super Series.
The 2010 PSA Super Series gets underway this week in New York with the
long-established JP Morgan Tournament of Champions at the US city's
iconic Grand Central Terminal. The PSA's new tournament initiative will
climax with a prestigious season-ending championship in December.
"Pulling together this package of top level events as early as this in
the year has been a major aim for the Professional Squash Association
for as far long as I can remember," said PSA CEO Alex Gough. "I'd like
to thank all of our partners and promoters for reacting as well as they
have over the past months and weeks. We have a very busy end to the year
once again, and it has not been easy scheduling around two major multi
sport games, namely the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
"I'm sure our players will be delighted by this announcement, so they
can structure their year around these major events. It is also
imperative for our TV distribution that we have a structured calendar
that we give to broadcasters as early as we can.
"Our aim is to really drive the message home that Professional Squash
has a vibrant, sustainable World Tour and this is a very good start to
that process," Gough concluded.
Australian Open Tournament Director Gary Hampson added: "The development
of the Super Series World Tour this year has given us a great
opportunity to put the Australian Open back into the elite level of
championships. We've been able to move the Open to August, away from the
tour break, and this will allow the best players to come to Australia.
"The Australian Open has traditionally been one of the world's leading
squash tournaments with a history of great Australian champions and the
best players from overseas; and now we will be able to attract over a
hundred of the world's best men and women to come to Canberra in August.
In recent years, Australia has not seen the whole tour competing on our
soil and we are excited at the prospect of seeing the top ten men and
women playing in the last three days of the Open."
David Palmer, the world No8 from New South Wales and one of the greatest
Australian squash players of all-time, said: "It is great to see that
the Australian Open this year will be a Super Series Event. I have been
playing on Tour for 16 years and this will be the first time that I will
get to play a Major Tournament back in Australia.
"I spoke to the organisers over the Christmas period and it sounds like
the venue will be very exciting. I am sure that the Australian squash
fans will be excited to see great Squash and all the top players compete
for the title.
"The Australian Open joins a great list of Super Series tournaments
worldwide that the PSA calendar is now boasting."
Of the ten 2010 PSA Super Series events, the following nine are
confirmed:
JP Morgan Tournament of Champions, New York, USA, January
North American Open, Richmond, VA, USA, February
Sky Open, Cairo, Egypt, April/May
Australian Open, Canberra, Australia, August
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open, Hong Kong
Kuwait Open, Kuwait, November
Qatar Classic, Doha, Qatar, November
Punj Lloyd PSA Masters, India, December
ATCO PSA Super Series Final, (TBD), December
"We are currently in close communication with England Squash and are
hopeful that the 2010 British Open can be added to this excellent list
of events," added Alex Gough.
This year's also features 2010 World Open, the premier Tour event
which will take place in Saudi Arabia this year and is a stand-alone
event outside the PSA Super Series.
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Points structure:
Winner:
100
Runner-up
70
Semi-finalist: 45
Quarter-finalist: 30
Last 16:
20
Last 32:
10 |
17-Nov-09:
Super Series gets a revamp
The PSA Super Series 2010, a series of major events throughout
2010 leading to a prestigious season-ending climax in December, will be
the focus of next year's PSA World Tour.
Players competing in the events, which will kick off with the
long-established Tournament of Champions at Grand Central
Terminal in New York in January, will accrue points from each. The top
eight players across the PSA Super Series 2010 will earn the right to
compete in a PSA Super Series Finals play-off championship in
December, the winner of which will be crowned the 2010 PSA Super Series
Champion.
Each Super Series event will carry the same points structure and an
update of the PSA Super Series 2010 points race will be published during
and at the end of each event, giving added impetus to the series and
creating a strong narrative across the year.
All the Super Series 2010 events will be featured in the new live/near
live worldwide TV coverage produced by PSA's new TV partners Total
Sports Asia (PSA goes live on TV, 14-Oct).
"This will provide a long-awaited new stimulus for the expanding PSA
World Tour and give a new focus for our leading events," explained PSA
Chief Executive Alex Gough. "Furthermore, the programme will
reach a climax at the year-end for the first time.
"We are working on finalising the list of events, but due to next year's
busy calendar we need to liaise closely with promoters to organise this.
"We also hope to announce further details of the season-ending event
soon, including a major prize for the winner and a better prize-fund
breakdown to incentivise players in the group matches," Gough added.
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06-Mar-09:
PSA Postpones Tour Event In Islamabad ...
Following the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, the
Professional Squash Association has acted speedily to postpone the next
major PSA Tour event to be staged in Pakistan.
The COAS International, which has attracted many of the world’s
top players over the past six years, was due to take place in Islamabad
in April.
“On behalf of everyone associated with the PSA we have passed on our
deepest regret to all at Pakistan Squash following the frightening event
involving the Sri Lankan cricket team that has just occurred in Lahore,”
said PSA CEO Alex Gough in a letter to members.
“In the light of this occurrence, and the fact that it specifically
targeted non-nationals that were under protective guard, it is with deep
regret that PSA are going to have to postpone the COAS International in
Islamabad and going forward we will have to review the registration of
any upcoming events in Pakistan.”
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04-Mar-09:
It's President Shabana
Amr Shabana, the first Egyptian to top the world squash rankings,
has accepted an invitation to join the board of the Professional Squash
Association.
The 29-year-old from Cairo will become the board's President, succeeding
Lee Beachill who has been appointed the Association's Chief Operating
Officer.
 "I'm
honoured to be brought onto the PSA Board and to be named as PSA
President. I look forward to this opportunity and to be part of the
ongoing process in the development of the sport of squash - particularly
in the final stages of our bid to join the Olympic Games programme.
"It is a crucial time for the game and I am delighted that I am in an
effective position that hopefully can bring about more positive steps in
the sport."
Shabana has been a dominant force in
world squash in recent years: The left-hander won the first of three
World Open titles in 2003 and in April 2006 began an unbroken 33-month
reign as world number one before going on to win the Cathay Pacific Hong
Kong Open trophy last year to bring his career PSA Tour title tally to
22.
"Before I joined the PSA, Amr was one of the players who always voiced
his opinion about the state of our sport. He often shared his ideas with
me, both verbally and in writing," explained PSA Chairman Ziad
Al-Turki. "I am really very delighted by his appointment, and
certain he will contribute much to the future development of the sport."
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03-Mar-09:
PSA Appoints Lee Beachill As COO
The
Professional Squash Association has appointed Lee Beachill to the
position Chief Operating Officer of the PSA, with effect from today. The
former world number one succeeds Alex Gough, who was recently
promoted to Chief Executive.
Beachill's appointment follows a review of the position and its
requirements conducted by Gough over the past few weeks. "I have given
much thought to the role and how I would like to see it defined, with a
clear division of responsibilities between COO and CEO," said Gough.
"Having done that, the desired qualities of a successful candidate
became clear."
Beachill had served as President of the PSA, and his contributions to
meetings and the general business of policy-making had impressed the
Board. Having been around the game of squash all his life, Beachill is
well-known among the stakeholder community - although this, stressed
Ziad Al-Turki, Chairman of the PSA Board, was not pre-requisite for
the role.
"Obviously Lee's profile as a former player is helpful, in that it
allows him to hit the ground running in this new role, but it was his
consistently high quality contributions to board meetings and the
respect with which he is held by the squash community that first alerted
us to his potential as a candidate," said Al-Turki today.
Following Gough's elevation to CEO last month and his announcement that
he would be applying due diligence to the process of recruitment,
several CVs were received by the PSA - and a shortlist of candidates
carefully considered.
"Lee did well to come out on top of a strong group," emphasised Gough.
Beachill's immediate tasks will be related to the re-launching of the
PSA Tour in 2010 and the current review of TV and webcasting rights,
which are due to reach a conclusion towards the end of May.
 "I'm
delighted to be given the opportunity to work for the PSA as the new
COO," said Beachill. "I feel my relationship with the players, promoters
and staff will help me in fulfilling the role as defined by the CEO -
and I'm really looking forward to working for the Association which has
given me so much over the years.
"I fully understand that this will be a 24/7 job - but I feel my love
for the sport and determination to succeed are the reasons I was given
this opportunity."
Flashback: Beach
Retires
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09-Feb-09:
PSA Promotes Alex Gough
To Be New Chief Executive
 The PSA
has promoted Chief Operating Officer Alex Gough to be its new
Chief Executive Officer. The appointment takes effect immediately.
Gough’s appointment follows the departure of Richard Graham, the
previous CEO, in December last year.
"Alex was an obvious choice to replace Richard," commented PSA Chairman
Ziad Al-Turki, speaking shortly after the announcement. "He’s committed
himself 100% to the role of COO and has won the respect of the Board and
of all the important stakeholders in squash. He is already leading many
of the development projects recently begun by the PSA, and with this
appointment the Board has given him a deserved vote of confidence."
Gough had been in the post of COO since June 2008 and in that time had
supported Graham and reported, through him, to the Board. With Graham’s
departure, Gough took up the reins unofficially almost immediately,
leading discussion on a number of important topics at the January 2009
PSA Board meeting in New York.
"I am delighted that the Board has shown confidence in me with this
appointment, although in practice the workload hasn’t changed and we’ve
still a great deal to do if we are to develop the sport of squash to its
full potential," said Gough.
One of Gough’s first tasks in the new role will be to find his
replacement as Chief Operating Officer. "I have identified a few
candidates in the short time that I have known about my own promotion,
but I am anxious that the correct procedures regarding an appointment
are followed and that all due diligence is conducted," said Gough.
"I’m not in too much of a hurry to make the appointment and will not
expect to do so before the end of February."
Flashback:
Goughy Retires
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29-Jan-2009:
MEET THE PSA BOARD...
Since the departure of CEO Richard Graham, a few questions/comments have
been posted on this forum, covering topics such as Chairman Ziad Al
Turki’s involvement and growing role in the PSA, what is the future of
our sport, what is happening about the Olympic bid, what the Marketing
companies engaged by the PSA will be doing, and so on ....
The PSA Board members are ready to answer questions you may have on
various subjects. They don’t promise to answer ALL of them, but they’ll
have a shot at them, being as open as they possibly can.
Please post your questions - anonymous posts will be disregarded - and
we’ll pass them on to the board. This is your chance, people….
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YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED |
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Along with the "Ambassadors",
a few of the Board Members (Ziad, Peter, Lee, Alex) |
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Jan 2009:
Lagos to host first major squash championship in Nigeria ...
The PSA has concluded an agreement with Maku Sports of Lagos to
stage the first major PSA Tour event in Nigeria.
The 2009 African Open Championship, boasting a $115,000
prize-fund, will be staged in Lagos from 12-15 August, following
two days of qualifying.
Maku Sports, the only owner of an all-glass court in Africa, has formed
a strategic partnership with Templewood Associates Limited in readiness
to host the 3rd African Open in the country's former capital.
"We are very pleased to announce this strategic partnership that we
intend to use as a vehicle to promote the game of Squash in Nigeria and
indeed the rest of Africa," said Segun Maku, Managing Director of Maku
Sports. "We want to elevate the status of Squash in the sub region and
we will use the platform of an expanded African Squash Open Championship
with a vastly increased prize money."
Templewood Associates' Chief Executive Chiekezi Dozie added: "We
realised the strides Maku Sports had made in the promotion of the sport
in Nigeria and we realised we could help in taking squash to the next
level. We want an event in sub Saharan Africa that is comparable to the
best other regions have to offer - which will see the world's best
players participating. This would be a wonderful development."
Alex Gough, Chief Operating Officer of the PSA, responded: "This will be
a landmark event for the PSA World Tour as it is the largest prize fund
for a 5-star event that PSA has ever had. It will therefore undoubtedly
attract all of the top players in the game. PSA will be working hard
with Segun and Chiekezi in the coming months to help them present a
fantastic event. It will be a huge boost for the level of squash in
Nigeria being able to see the world's best compete in Lagos."
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30-Dec-08:
Richard Graham Departs PSA
Richard Graham is departing the Professional Squash Association seven
months after joining the player body as Chief Executive.
Chairman Ziad Al-Turki commended the contribution Graham has made since
joining the PSA: "Richard had made great strides in restructuring the
PSA World Tour, and has also helped attract potential new media partners
for the Tour that will help promote the sport to a wider audience. We
wish him well in his future pursuits."
Further announcements concerning the future of the CEO role will be made
by the PSA Board early in the New Year.
Graham's appointment
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Dec 2008:
Professional Squash Association Joins Forces
With KHP Consulting
The
Board of the PSA, through its newly-appointed chairman Ziad Al-Turki,
has engaged the services of international marketing and communications
agency KHP Consulting to help further build the universal appeal of the
PSA World Tour.
KHP has supported the development of Formula One™ from a purist
motorsport activity to the lifestyle sport it is today. This partnership
with the PSA will see the agency draw on twenty-five years’ experience
working in sport, to open new markets and establish the sport of Squash
on the global stage.
And the beauty of Squash's growing popularity? Its mobility; how many
other sports can say they have been played at the Pyramids of Giza or
New York's Grand Central Station? Sell-out tournaments are played
throughout the year across five continents, from Manchester to
Melbourne, Cairo to Quebec, and with Squash up for consideration for the
2016 Summer Olympic Games no-one can deny the sport is on the rise.
Al-Turki indicated that the Board intends to capture the imagination of
young people everywhere and bring through a new, enthused generation of
Squash players and fans whilst continuing to build its growing corporate
profile and take the sport to new iconic venues around the world.
Saudi Arabia businessman Al-Turki has been instrumental in bringing KHP
on board and is confident that the new partnership will be hugely
beneficial to the future of the sport: "I have been working for some
time on ways to raise the profile of squash," said Al-Turki. "It is very
exciting to join forces with KHP, and although there is a lot of work
ahead I am sure that with the wealth of experience KHP brings to the PSA,
we can reach our goals."
Commenting on the announcement, KHP Consulting’s CEO Scott Garrett said:
"KHP has a long history within sport and understands what it takes to
build a growing sport into a global commercial success. We are always
looking to work with new and exciting championships, and with that in
mind the passion and ambitions of the PSA World Tour to take Squash to
the next level fit perfectly with our company objectives.
"Squash is rapidly growing in popularity so it is a really exciting time
for the sport and KHP is looking forward to working closely with the PSA
to help promote the professional squash tour." |
Dec 2008:
PSA Appoints Greenspace To Make World Squash
‘Cool’
Brand identity and experiential agency Greenspace has been appointed by
the Professional Squash Association to refresh and re-invigorate the PSA
Tour Super Series in order to widen the appeal of the sport.
Greenspace has been tasked to update the image of the sport and make it
more appealing to a younger, more diverse audience.
Commencing immediately, Greenspace will develop a new identity including
promotional and marketing direction, as well as experiential and
interactive development for the sport itself right from street level
through to the professional circuit.
Appointed by PSA Chairman Ziad Al-Turki, the Saudi Vice-President of the
ATCO Group who has already made the Saudi International the most
financially lucrative tournament for players, the PSA aims to 're-brand'
the Super Series as a modern and exciting spectacle - and believes there
is a huge opportunity for the re-emergence of this fast-paced sport.
"The image and therefore perception of World Squash hasn’t really moved
on since its inception," said Al-Turki, during the Saudi International -
the world's richest ever squash tournament which is taking place
currently in the Saudi city of Al-Khobar. "I’m excited to be working
with Greenspace who have really captured our imagination with ways to
bring the sport alive to a new audience as we approach the 2012
Olympics."
Greenspace will be looking at all aspects of the game, from the design
of the court and audience experience at the tournament, through to
player uniforms and profiles and marketing campaigns. Early ideas
include concepts for light displays and even a sonic branding element
that captures the unique sound of squash.
This refreshing new experience will be launched through 2009 and
Greenspace is keen to make it one of the most exciting sporting
expressions of the year. A key moment for the sport will be the ATCO
Super Series Finals at Queen's Club in London in March, followed by the
Saudi International in December 2009.
As a keen squash fan, Greenspace Creative Director Paul Blackburn is
especially excited: "On a personal level, this is really a dream job. I
played squash all through my youth, so it’s great to now be able to make
it a much more popular and visible sport for the present day," said
Blackburn.
Greenspace Founder and CEO Adrian Caddy adds: “With our experience of
developing campaigns and events for global brands like Toyota Motor
Europe, Heineken International and Nokia, and with the enthusiasm and
support of Ziad Al-Turki, we’re in an ideal position to develop the
World Squash Super Series into a truly contemporary, popular and global
sporting event." |
16-Oct-08:
Saudi Ziad Al-Turki
To Chair PSA Board
In a major shake up of the board of the Professional Squash
Association, former world number one and event promoter Peter
Nicol, MBE, and businessman Ziad Al-Turki, have been
elected directors of the players' organisation which boasts a
flourishing men's world tour valued this year at more than $3
million.
Al-Turki has been appointed Chairman of the new board. The
UK-based Saudi, Vice-Chairman of the ATCO Group, is the driving
force behind the Saudi International. Launched four years ago,
the event will offer a record $250,000 prize fund this December.
Last month, Al-Turki announced that the ATCO Group will sponsor
the PSA's flagship Super Series Finals Championship, which will
be staged for the first time at The Queen's Club in London next
year.
With Nicol and Al-Turki on the PSA board are Robert Graham,
the US-based Treasurer; former player Mark Chaloner, who
has stood down as Chairman; British lawyer Richard Bramall;
and players Lee Beachill, who assumes the position of
President, and Frenchman Renan Lavigne, who becomes Vice
President.
Tony Hands and Martin Macdonnell, who retired from the
board, have been appointed Honorery Life Members of the PSA.
 "The
appointment means a lot to me, it also means a lot to Saudi
Arabia - going from a country not known in Squash, to having a
Saudi head the PSA in four years is an accomplishment of its
own.
"I have been working for some time at ways to raise the profile
of squash, from meeting$with potential sponsors to media and
marketing companies - and this appointment will validate my
position with them. It shows that the efforts I have put are
appreciated by all!
"But there’s a lot of work ahead, and with the PSA Executives,
the Board and of course the players, I feel that we can reach
our goals. All of us have the same objectives and I feel that
everyone feels positive about the direction the PSA is heading
towards."
Richard Graham, the
recently-appointed PSA CEO, added his enthusiasm for the new
board line-up: "There is an important array of skills and
experiences which are now reflected in the new board - led by
the new Chairman's proven international business expertise and
the event promotion experience introduced by Peter Nicol.
"While there is continuity within the board, there is also a
sense of change with the new appointments," Graham added. "The
board provides valuable support to the efforts of myself and my
colleague Alex Gough, the Chief Operating Officer.
"Our objective going forward include the re-launch of the top
events on the PSA Tour in 2010, including planning dates and the
sequence of events a year in advance to enhance broadcasting and
sponsorship opportunities; the renegotiation of PSA's
international TV and other commercial rights; and the elevation
of the profile of Squash and, in particular, our players."
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24-Jun-08:
PSA appoints Gus
Cook as
'Consultant for
the Americas'
The Professional Squash Association
has underlined the importance of the burgeoning Squash market in
North and South America by appointing Justin (Gus) Cook
as a consultant for the territory.
US-based Cook, the long-time promoter of the
Davenport Professional Championship in Virginia, has been
given responsibility for seeking new promoters and assisting
them, and current PSA partners, to create and develop new events
for the World Tour.
Cook is positive about the potential for his
new role: "I am very pleased to accept this newly-formed
position with the PSA and excited by the great many new pro
tournament prospects that certainly exist in North America.
"The sport in general has been gaining
momentum in this part of the world over the last 15 years and
the PSA represents the top echelon of elite players," Cook
continued. "These players are incredible to watch in action and
can help raise awareness of the sport to a new audience along
with creating added excitement in established squash
communities."
Cook started work
on this new project in April and has already made contact with
many potential promoters. He can be reached on e-mail at
guscook29@hotmail.com
or by telephone on (+1) 443 622 0360.
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18-Jun-08:
Frenchman Lavigne
to join PSA Board
 Renan
Lavigne will be the first Frenchman to become a Director of
the Professional Squash Association when his new position is
ratified at the next PSA Board meeting in August.
The 33-year-old world No27 from Marseille was invited to take up
the role by Chairman Mark Chaloner, replacing former President
Alex Gough (now the PSA's Chief Operating Officer) as a
senior player on the Board.
A member of the PSA since 1994, Lavigne has enjoyed a
distinguished career on the PSA Tour, reaching 14 finals and
winning eight titles, including the Danish Open, Kenya Open and
the Colombian Open twice.
The former world No17 has also represented France in six
successive World Team Championships since 1997.
The PSA Board meeting in August is expected to confirm Lee
Beachill as the Association's new President, with Lavigne
taking up the Vice President role.
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 "It
will be a great honour for me to get this position and I would like
to thank the PSA Board for its trust in me."
"I am passionate about squash and I am looking forward to
contributing to the growth of our Tour. I have the strong belief
that our Association is moving in the right direction."
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05-Jun-08:
PSA
appoints
Alex Gough as Chief Operating Officer
Former world No5 Squash player Alex Gough
has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer of the Professional
Squash Association.
Gough will work closely with the
newly-appointed PSA CEO Richard Graham on the operational
aspects of Tour development, media coverage and promotion. His
primary role will be to instigate and monitor quality control on
all PSA Tour events, to ensure that they run to a consistently
high professional standard, and advise promoters on effective
management of their events.
Martin Macdonnell,
the PSA Board member who chaired the interview panel for the
recent CEO appointment, explained: "The majority of PSA events
are run very efficiently by highly experienced promoters, but as
we expand our Tour we are increasingly finding a need to assist
newer promoters in ensuring that their events are run in
accordance with our rules and marketed effectively to the Squash
public.
"We had identified a need for this position
before appointing the new CEO and the interview panel recommended
that now was the perfect time to further invest in the future of
the Tour. Alex's long term experience as a player and President
of PSA will make him effective from day one and his knowledge will
enable him to support the management and marketing experience of
our new CEO."
The 37-year-old Welshman, currently ranked 25
in the world, will immediately resign his position as President of
the PSA Board and retire from the Tour. [So
Long, Goughy]
Alex Gough has enjoyed a distinguished career
in squash since graduating from Cardiff University with a first
class honours degree in mathematics. A member of the PSA since
1993, Gough has appeared in 16 Tour finals, with title triumphs in
10. He has represented Wales with distinction in eight World Team
Championships and 18 European Team Championships. In 2006, he won
the British Open Over-35 title, and in Bermuda last December
became the only unseeded player to reach the quarter-finals of the
World Open.
"I am extremely excited to have been given this
opportunity at the PSA," said Gough. "I believe we have found a
fantastic new CEO in Richard Graham and I am looking forward to
working closely with him. The PSA Tour, and squash as a whole,
has huge potential right now and I am looking forward to the
challenge of making the sport look as exciting and as attractive
as we can.
"The PSA is incredibly lucky to have a
fantastic depth of talent in its players and I know that they are
ready and willing to help push the sport to the next level. We
need the top players in the game to become well known
personalities in the wider sporting world and be identifiably
associated with the PSA brand." |
Bye Bye Brackets
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02-Jun-08:
PSA appoints Richard Graham
as CEO
The Professional Squash Association has appointed Richard
Graham as its new Chief Executive. The former Chief
Operating Officer of the Parallel Media Group plc takes
up his position today (2 June).
"We received a very large number of applications for this great
opportunity - and from over 30 people who were seriously
considered for the appointment, we finally selected eight for
the short-list," said PSA Board member Martin Macdonnell,
Chairman of the Interview Panel.
"I was fortunate enough to be able to call on an interview panel
with a great depth of experience. In addition to the majority of
the PSA Board, the panel included Ziad Al-Turki, Vice
Chairman ATCO Group and promoter of both the Saudi International
Squash Tournament and the Super Series Finals; Peter Nicol
MBE, founder of Peter Nicol Squash and a Director of Eventis
Sports Marketing, promoters of the Canary Wharf Classic and
English Open; and Gordon Baird, the former Dunlop
Marketing Director and Managing Director of Adidas and
Timberland. Furthermore, the process was facilitated by PSA
Interim CEO Ted Wallbutton.
"The selection of Richard for the CEO post was unanimous and I
am confident that we have found and appointed a person with the
skill set and personality to take PSA forward into an exciting
new era," Macdonnell concluded.
Richard Graham brings to the role considerable experience in
sports marketing: During his tenure at Parallel Media Group plc
- an AIM-listed sports/media company - the company posted its
maiden profit, raising around €5 million in new sponsorship
revenue. Graham managed 16 staff in London and Hong Kong, and
the company ran two major golf tournaments in Asia for the PGA
European Tour.
Previously, the new PSA CEO worked with a number of sports
federations, including the Lawn Tennis Association, the
Lipton International Players Championships in Miami and
British Equestrian Promotions. Since leaving PMG in
January, Graham has acted as an independent sponsorship agent to
a variety of rights holders, including Birmingham City FC,
Honda F1 Racing, SnowsportGB and the English
Open Golf Championship.
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 "I’m
extremely excited about the potential that exists within squash and
delighted to be joining the PSA. I feel that all of the experience
that I have gained from working in sport can be brought together in
this role.
"My principal objective is to help create an environment in which
all professional squash players can have realistic expectations of
earning a good living from the sport.
"I believe that squash has a strong base from which the Tour, the
PSA’s commercial partnerships and the sport’s media coverage can
each be developed. It is in these three areas that I hope to focus
my energy from the outset.
"I’ve already been impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the
people that work within squash and in the PSA. I’m now looking
forward to meeting the players, event promoters and the various
federations within the game."
The PSA manages and promotes the men’s world professional squash
circuit from its head office in Cardiff, Wales. The annual PSA World
Tour, which forms the backbone of men's elite squash, features over
100 events, valued at US$2.6 million, in more than 40 countries. |
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31-May-08:
Richard Bramall
elected to board
British lawyer Richard Bramall has been elected onto the board of
the Professional Squash Association.
Specialising in commercial, employment and insurance law, Bramall is
an equity partner in a firm of solicitors in Yorkshire, England.
With wide interests in sport, including Squash, motor sport, winter
sports and football, he is also a director of Pontefract Squash
Club.
 "It
was a huge honour and privilege to be approached to sit as a board
member of the PSA," said Bramall. "I have worked for some time as a
director of Pontefract Squash Club and have thoroughly enjoyed
helping with the challenges of running a successful Club, while
witnessing the success of the players of all abilities and levels.
"Squash is clearly at a very exciting and progressive stage with the
sport and player-profile increasing, which is in turn raising Tour
revenue. I will endeavour to play my part in ensuring that the trend
continues."
Bramall succeeds Jack Herrick as a Director of the PSA. Herrick, a
former Chairman, retired last month after 14 years on the Board.
An announcement on the new PSA Chief Executive is expected shortly
...
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27-May-08:
PSA
Revises
PAR Scoring Reporting
The Board of the PSA
has decided to revise the reporting of its scoring system with
effect from 1 June.
The PSA's move in August 2004 to reduce of
the points in a game from 15 to 11 transformed men's
professional squash - making the sport more attacking, more
exciting, and considerably enhancing its spectator and
television appeal.
When a game score reached 10-10, a
'tie-break' was introduced, the winner needing a lead of two
clear points. A game finishing at, say, '15-13' was reported as
'11-10 (5-3)'.
From 1 June, all game scores will be reported
in full.
"Our original intention was to make the
presentation of our results simpler, with all games finishing at
11 points," said PSA President Alex Gough. "But after
lobbying from various sections of the game - and the realisation
that the full presentation of the scores is clear and acceptable
to the general sports world - we have decided to make the
change."
Steve Cubbins,
the webmaster of
www.squashsite.co.uk and one of the leading
campaigners for the change, commented: "PSA's move to 11-scoring
was undoubtedly a great success, and the '2-clear' element added
much excitement to many matches.
"However the 11-10 (x-x) reporting method
took a simple system (first to 11, 2 clear) and made it
unnecessarily complicated, so SquashSite decided to report
matches 'as they happened', eg 15/13.
"We are delighted that a standard method of
recording the score, reflecting what actually happens, has been
agreed."
WISPA, who recently announced that the
women's professional game will also move to PAR scoring to 11 in
July, will also adopt the new presentation.
Bye Bye Brackets |
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