Bell Pottinger to handle media interest in top football business event.

Bell Pottinger, Britain’s top ranking public relations group, has been brought in to handle global media interest in the forthcoming Soccerex European Forum, Europe’s leading event for the business of football.

Over one thousand delegates, including owners, chief executives and other senior management from football clubs across Europe will gather in Manchester next month when the annual conference debates the biggest issues facing the sport.

All 20 Premier League clubs have confirmed their attendance, as have heavyweights from across Europe including Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Olympique Lyonnais and Schalke 04.

Bell Pottinger North’s director John Butters will lead the campaign. He said: “Football is a £13 billion a year industry in Europe and this is the premier conference and networking forum for senior figures from the sport to address ‘off the pitch’ issues.

“There is an extremely high profile line up of speakers and delegates and this has attracted interest from scores of journalists who are flying in from as far afield as Brazil, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa and the United States.

“Our role will be to help the organisers manage the media interest and to help delegations, including those from the Qatar 2022 Bid Committee and Russia 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup Bid Committee, to connect with the press.”

Bell Pottinger North, based in Macclesfield, is the largest public relations consultancy in the north of England. It also has offices in Leeds and Liverpool.