League Championship side Bolton players "are seeking a January move" away from the club "as its financial turmoil continues." Wages were unpaid last week and several unhappy first-teamers reportedly "have told their agents to try to find them new clubs." As reported by the Bolton News last week, "an email was sent to staff saying it had not been possible to pay all last month's wages, with playing and coaching staff being told they would have to wait." Senior players were later told the issue would be resolved by Thursday (London DAILY MAIL, 12/4).
Modern Times Group invested in gaming venture capital firm Play Ventures as an "expansion of its commitment to the industry." MTG already held an investment in esports startup investor BITKRAFT, and the addition of Play Ventures "marks the 11th gaming startup MTG has added to its portfolio" since announcing its own $30M venture capital fund that was created to target minority investments in gaming last November (THE ESPORTS OBSERVER, 12/4).
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British firms are signing £1.5B ($1.9B) worth of contracts with Qatar for work on the 2022 World Cup -- more than 10 times what they made in Brazil four years ago. The "huge trade bonanza" was announced by the U.K. government on "the back of deals with Doha to build new stadiums, cut the grass and provide pitch-side security guards" (GULF TIMES, 12/5).
