The expansion MLS club in Atlanta, which is set to begin play in ’17, has named EPL club Tottenham Hotspur Dir of Football Administration DARREN EALES as its first President after “a months-long search,” according to Doug Roberson of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. Eales has held his role at Tottenham since ’10 and “served in a variety of roles” for EPL club West Bromwich before that. The England native “played collegiately at West Virginia and then at Brown, where he was a first-team All-American.” Eales “is known as an expert negotiator.” One of his “first roles in Atlanta will be to hire a technical director/coach” (AJC.com, 9/10). SOCCER AMERICA’s Ridge Mahoney noted Eales “will report directly” to Owner ARTHUR BLANK. Eales “also received a glowing recommendation” from former MLS Deputy Commissioner and current EPL club Arsenal CEO IVAN GAZIDIS. Executive recruitment firm Korn/Ferry conducted the search for the club (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 9/10). NBCSPORTS.com’s Joe Prince-Wright noted Eales “has been influential in the sale of several top players to MLS in recent seasons,” with Toronto FC F JERMAINE DEFOE, Sounders F CLINT DEMPSEY and Galaxy F ROBBIE KEANE “all leaving Spurs with his say so.” Meanwhile, the Atlanta club “revealed that over 5,300 people have signed up for the Founders Club season ticket program, which has resulted in 15,500 seats already being reserved” (NBCSPORTS.com, 9/10).
