EPL Newcastle United has given "a bold declaration of its belief" in Manager ALAN PARDEW by awarding him an eight-year contract. The deal is the longest given to an EPL manager, and has been designed to not only provide stability and security for Pardew and his coaching staff, but also to make it "financially disadvantageous to clubs who may be interested in poaching them in the future." The new contracts run until the end of the '19-20 season, and will provide "suitable compensation should they be terminated early." The club was aware of stories linking the 51-year-old with the vacant manager's position at Liverpool over the summer but never received any approaches for him (London TELEGRAPH, 9/27). REUTERS' Toby Davis wrote "the effort to impose stability at the club is in contrast" to its recent history where it has had nine permanent or caretaker managers in the last eight years. Newcastle Managing Dir DEREK LLAMBIAS said, "If you look at clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal, ALEX FERGUSON and ARSENE WENGER have shown that stability gives you the best platform to achieve success, and that is the model we wish to emulate here," managing director Derek Llambias said on the club website" (REUTERS, 9/27).
SAY HELLO: Football Federation Australia has announced BEN WILSON as the new FFA Director of Referees, replacing MARK SHIELD. Wilson has a long and successful history as one of Australia’s top match officials. He began officiating at the age of 15 and his first professional match came as an NSL Assistant Referee in '96. Wilson’s appointment as FFA Director of Referees will see him take over the running of the FFA Referees Department (FFA).
IN AND OUT: Basketball Bundesliga club Bayern Munich has "fired Head Coach DIRK BAUERMANN less than a week before the club's season opening game against Quakenbrück on Wednesday." As the reason for the surprising release of the former German national team coach are the club stated "differences in opinion regarding the team's future and development" (SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG, 9/27). ... Serie A Cagliari Calcio President MASSIMO CELLINO has "announced his resignation." The 56-year-old "draws the consequences of a dispute concerning safety of the stadium in Cagliari" (SID, 9/26). ... Bundesliga club Bayern Munich has "found a successor for resigning CFO KARL HOPFNER." The 45-year-old finance expert JAN-CHRISTIAN DREESEN "will take over Hopfner's position at the beginning of next year" (DPA, 9/26). ... Football League One Colchester United appointed JOE DUNNE as the club's permanent manager following the dismissal of JOHN WARD last weekend. The 39-year-old is a former U.S. defender, who worked as assistant to Ward and has spent the last 16 years at the club (PA, 9/27)
AUTHORITY TO CHOOSE: Former Indian cricketer SANDEEP PATIL has been appointed Board Of Control For Cricket In India National Selection Committee Chair, while MOHINDER AMARNATH was sacked after serving just one year on the panel. Patil’s appointment “came as a surprise, as his name was not even being talked about as a possible candidate.” ROGER BINNY (South), VIKRAM RATHORE (North), SABA KARIM (East) and RAJINDER SINGH HANS (Central) make up the rest of the new panel. Former national team player CHNADRAKANT PANDIT was named chair of the junior selection committee (PTI, 9/27).
