Former Ligue 1 Paris St. Germain coach GUY LACOMBE "signed an eight-month contract" to become the new manager of UAE Pro-League club Al Wasl, "replacing his cancer-striken compatriot BRUNO METSU, who resigned last month." Metsu's assistant GILLE MORISSEAU, "who stood in as interim coach for the club's last four matches during Metsu's absence, will now assist the new manager" (GULF NEWS, 11/7). ... Coca-Cola has rewarded Olympics Marketing Dir JAMES EADIE with a top-level role within its European marketing operations. Eadie, "who is considered by execs at the company's Atlanta headquarters to be a 'star' marketer," has been appointed as Coca-Cola's integrated marketing communications director for North West Europe and Nordics. He will report to NWEN Marketing Dir NICK ROBINSON (MARKETINGMAGAZINE.co.uk, 11/6). ... Caterham F1 Team Principal TONY FERNANDES will step down from his position. The EPL QPR chair intends to spend more time on Caterham’s road car business (London DAILY MAIL, 11/6). ... Swiss National League A club SCL Tigers "appointed former German national hockey team head coach JAKOB KÖLLIKER as its new sporting director." The 59-year-old Swiss native coached the SCL Tigers between '93-99 and was the club's sporting director during the '99-00 season (SCL Tigers). ... German TV channel Sport1 Program Dir and Editor in Chief ALEXANDER RÖSNER "has resigned from his positions with immediate effect." Rösner, "who resigned at his own request, will be replaced by the channel's football Dir OLAF SCHRÖDER. (QUOTENMETER.de, 11/7).
MANAGERS: Western Australia and Perth Scorchers cricket teams coach LACHLAN STEVENS has resigned admitting the season's start has been "extremely challenging." The Western Australian Cricket Association said that Stevens recently advised them that "he would not seek reappointment" at the end of the season, but has since decided he should go now (THE AUSTRALIAN, 11/7). In Perth, Ben Papalia reported that Australia's assistant coach and batting coach JUSTIN LANGER will replace Stevens. The WACA is also looking to hire WA "great" ADAM GILCHRIST as Langer's assistant (PERTH NOW, 11/7). ... Football coach KIM PAN-GON "has been given six months to prove his worth" after taking charge of the Hong Kong national team for the second time in three years. The South Korean was given the job by the Hong Kong FA after Australian ERNIE MERRICK "controversially parted ways with the team" following a defeat to Malaysia in an int'l friendly last month (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 11/7). ... The Waikato Rugby Union has reappointed CHRIS GIBBES as head coach of the Waikato ITM Cup team for a further two years (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 11/7). ... Championship club Blackpool FC has named MICHAEL APPLETON as its new manager "after reaching and agreement for his release" from League One side Portsmouth. Appleton "moves to Bloomfield Road as successor to IAN HOLLOWAY," who joined Championship side Crystal Palace last weekend (PA, 11,7).
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