Sir Philip Davies will take over as chair of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) later this year. The former Shipley MP, who also chairs bookmaker Star Sports, starts the role on 1 September. Current chair Jeremy Cooper will step down after seven years, while CEO Mark Bird has agreed to stay on for another two years to help with the handover.

• The Sir Philip Davies GBGB appointment follows his 19 years in Parliament. He served on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and chaired the Panel of Chairs during his time as MP.

• Jeremy Cooper said Davies showed a solid understanding of the sport during the interview process. He added the appointment should be well received by trainers, owners and tracks.

• Cooper leaves after seven years in charge, highlighting work done on welfare. He said the Greyhound Commitment had helped raise standards of care across licensed racing.

• Davies said his connection to greyhound and horseracing began in childhood, when his mother ran a betting shop in Doncaster. He said the sport is woven into local life, contributing to jobs and the economy.

• Looking ahead, Davies said he plans to work closely with tracks, owners, trainers and stakeholders to help secure the sport’s future.

• Mark Bird, who had planned to step down as CEO, will now stay until 2027. The GBGB board asked him to remain to keep stability through the leadership change.

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