John Brewer has been appointed chairman of the British Handball Association.

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Brewer, 47, served as a member of the support staff for the England football team at Italia 90 and England cricket team in Australia in 1992.

British Handball is trying to build momentum for the sport ahead of their 2012 Olympic debut, while battling a cut in funding from UK Sport.

"I've always wanted to get closely involved with a sporting governing body, and handball offers a really exciting challenge," said Brewer (pictured).

"I will be doing everything I can to get increased funding for the programme to support our athletes.

"It's also vitally important that we work together with England Handball and Scottish Handball."

Brewer has been director of sport science and communication at multinational pharmaceutical company since 2004, and will become professor of sport at the University of Bedfordshire later this year.