The Football Association has appointed EPL West Bromwich Albion's DAN ASHWORTH as its new director of elite development but has scrapped plans for a technical director. The FA had been looking for a technical director earlier in the summer, but after former English footballer and Manager GARETH SOUTHGATE "ruled himself out of contention," it has decided against appointing anyone to that post. Instead, Ashworth, West Brom's 41-year-old sporting and technical director, will have a different role. He will stay at the club until next summer when he takes up the post at the FA's new national football centre at St. George's Park, working alongside Dir of Football Development TREVOR BROOKING.
EXEC MOVES: Havas Sports & Entertainemnt has named MARIA GAVRILOVA Managing Dir of Havas Sports & Entertainment Russia. The company also announced the official opening of Havas Sports & Entertainment Russia in Moscow, which gives it 36 offices in 20 markets. The move also gives it a presence in Russia leading up to the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi and the 2018 FIFA World Cup (Havas Sports & Entertainment). ... LeadOff Sports Marketing hired former MiLB Staten Island Yankees Sponsor Services Dir TAKUYA MIHARA as Dir of Business Development. Mihara will manage the company's clients and businesses, as well as oversee and manage sponsorship, marketing, branding and representation for all company properties (LeadOff Sports Marketing). ... Hockey India confirmed MARIAMMA KOSHY as its president. The 63-year-old was elected HI vice president in Aug. '10 and held the interim president's position since Nov. '10. Hockey Karnataka Treasurer GAYATRI SHETTY was named vice president (IANS, 9/17). ... The Board of Control for Cricket in India Joint Secretary and Hamirpur district BJP MP ANURAAG THANKUR has been inducted as an Asian Cricket Council exec board member. BCCI Chief N SRINIVASAN "is also the president of ACC," which promotes and develops cricket in the Asian region (PTI, 9/16).
COACHING CHANGES: Stade Français rugby club Head Coach MICHAEL CHEIKA is "expected to be announced as the new head coach" of Super Rugby side New South Wales Waratahs on Tuesday morning. He will succeed MICHAEL FOLEY, "who quit the struggling outfit" in July to accept a three-year deal with Super Rugby side Western Force (AAP, 9/18). ... Former Super League side Leeds winger FRANCIS CUMMINS has been appointed Super League side Bradford Bulls head coach on a three-year contract. Cummins was recommended by his predecessor MICK POTTER "after he opted to return to Australia. The new role will be Cummins' first as head coach, and at age 35 he will be the youngest in the Super League (AFP, 9/17). ... Korean Baseball Organization team Nexen Heroes fired Manager KIM SI-JIN. The Heroes have terminated their contract with Kim, who had signed a three-year extension last season. Bench Coach KIM SUNG-KAP will be the interim manager for the rest of the season (YONHAP, 9/17). ... The German Hockey Federation (DEB) appointed 48-year-old PAT CORTINA as head coach of the national team. Cortina is also the head coach of German Hockey League (DEL) club EHC Red Bull Munich (SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG, 9/17).
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