A new organisation has been launched that will bring together elite referees and umpires from a number of sports.

The Association of Elite Sports Officials (AESO) will attempt to improve the standard of sports officials through the exchange of ideas and training methods. Comprising current and former officials from football, rugby union, rugby league and cricket, AESO will also look to develop a more positive image of sports officials, while also encouraging a greater appreciation of the role referees and umpires play.

AESO will also help sports governing bodies to recruit and retain sports officials, particularly young people, ethic minorities and females. Former Premier League and international football referee, David Elleray, will chair the executive board of AESO. He said: "The formation of AESO enables us to learn from each other in a more structured manner.

"While each sport has its own specific challenges and demands, there are many aspects of refereeing that cut across sports and that is the platform we will build on." Chris Kelly, umpires' manager at the England and Wales Cricket Board, Ed Morrison, head of elite referee development for the Rugby Football Union, and Stuart Cummings, match officials director at the Rugby Football League will also sit on the executive board, as well as Keith Hackett, head of football's Professional Game Match Officials Board.