EPL Talk has been named the best website in the 2009 Soccerlens Awards picking up both the readers’ choice and editor’s choice awards in the Best Competition Site category. Plus EPL Talk came in third place in the Best Football Podcast of 2009 award beating World Football Daily.

“Over the years, EPL Talk has become a football blogging icon – coupled with the podcast, it’s quite possibly one of the best football blogs around,” said Ahmed Bilal, owner of Soccerlens and organizer of the 2009 Soccerlens Awards. “EPL Talk edges out mainstream media sites like the BBC and the Guardian by giving you proper football analysis and wide-lens coverage of the English Premier League.”

In the Best Competition Site category, which featured sites that focused on leagues and cup tournaments, EPL Talk won 65% of the votes.

As for the Best Football Podcast of 2009, The Football Ramble won the readers’ choice award followed by The Guardian’s Football Weekly and then the EPL Talk Podcast, which features daily interviews with some of the biggest names in football including David Conn, Jon Champion, Joe Royle, Jan Molby, Steve McManaman, Robbie Earle, Martin Tyler and many others.

On behalf of EPL Talk, I’d like to thank you — the soccer community — for making EPL Talk number one. And also thanks to the bloggers at EPL Talk who make the articles possible. And thanks to EPL Talk Podcast host Kartik Krishnaiyer for getting the bronze medal in a competitive category.

Be sure to check out the complete list of winning blogs, podcasts and football websites on the Soccerlens Awards page.

It’s with great pleasure to announce spectacular news today, and that is Kartik Krishnaiyer, the host of the EPL Talk and MLS Talk Podcasts, as well as writer for both sites, has been appointed Public Relations Director for the North American Soccer League (NASL).

As a result of the full-time position, Krishnaiyer will be stepping down as the host of both podcasts. However, he will be a guest on some future EPL Talk episodes and will return to writing for EPL Talk once the World Cup tournament kicks off this summer.

Due to his position as PR Director at the NASL, Krishnaiyer will not be writing for MLS Talk for the foreseeable future due to the obvious conflict of interest.

Krishnaiyer’s appointment as PR Director is testament to the hard work and dedication he has given to the coverage of the sport in this country as well as the connections he has made since joining the EPL Talk Network in 2006.

While it’ll be sad to see Krishnaiyer move on, I’m very pleased to announce that his replacement as host of the EPL Talk and MLS Talk Podcasts, as well as contributing writer for both sites, will be Richard Farley, an accomplished writer and podcaster who is extremely well versed on world football.

Farley has previously written and appeared on websites such as Set Piece Analysts, World Soccer Digest, World Soccer Reader and has hosted several podcasts including Set Piece Analysts, Inside The Six and Russian Football Now.

We have no doubt that Farley, being a scholar of the game, will be warmly welcomed by both the EPL Talk and MLS Talk readers. His understanding of the tactics of the game is exemplary, and I am personally looking forward to his contributions to both podcasts and sites.

Between now and the end of the month, Krishnaiyer will continue hosting the EPL Talk Podcast and will then officially hand over the reins to Farley on February 1, 2010.

Please join me in welcoming Richard Farley to the network and congratulating Kartik Krishnaiyer on his well-deserved appointment as the NASL PR Director.

NASL released a press release today to announce the news.

Don’t miss the latest Major League Soccer Talk podcast interview with Martin Rogers, Yahoo’s world soccer writer. Interviewed by Kartik Krishnaiyer, Rogers answers questions about several topics including Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer signings, how the Euro 2008 tournament was received in England and a preview of the Olympics soccer tournament which Rogers is covering for Yahoo Sports.

Listen now or, better yet, subscribe to the podcast via iTunes so you don’t miss a single episode. You can also find the archives of all 50+ interviews here.