British Swimming National Performance Dir MICHAEL SCOTT, who oversaw the team at the London Olympics that "gathered only three medals in total in the pool," resigned Saturday night. Scott will leave his post on Friday "after learning that a key recommendation of the review that he himself had set up was that the national performance director must live in Britain." Scott has been based in Australia since his appointment in '07, "a decision that has always been hugely controversial" (SUNDAY TIMES, 11/25). Meanwhile, Swimming Australia CEO KEVIN NEIL has stepped down following the country's poor performance at the London Olympics (SA). In Sydney, Nicole Jeffery wrote it is "a case of perfect timing" that Scott has become available just as Neil quits and SA begins its search for his replacement. Scott "had intended to stay with British Swimming" until the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, but he will now "be looking for a job in Australia." SA has "two on offer for which he is amply qualified" -- CEO and the role he held in the U.K., high performance director. Additionally, Athletics Australia is also hiring a high performance director (THE AUSTRALIAN, 11/26).
OLYMPIC MOVEMENTS: Bangladesh Chief of Army Staff General IQBAL KARIM BHUIYAN and Bangladesh's Ambassador to Kuwait SYED SHAHED REZA "have been virtually elected unopposed as the president and secretary general" of the Bangladesh Olympic Association as no other candidates challenged them on the day of nomination submission at the BOA office (DAILY STAR, 11/22). ... Prestige Ticketing, the organization that provided the official in-venue hospitality at the London Olympics, appointed PAUL LEMON as head of business development. Paul joins Prestige Ticketing with more than 15 years experience in the sports ticketing and hospitality industry, "having worked all over the world on a range of major events including five Olympic Games." Prior to working with LOCOG, Paul was GM of Sportsworld Group in Beijing where he worked with a number of sponsors and National Olympic Committees on a range of complex hospitality programs (INCENTIVE TRAVEL, 11/22).
COACHES: Scotland's rugby head coach ANDY ROBINSON resigned Sunday "after a series of poor performances from his team." Tonga's 21-15 win at Pittodrie "turned out to be the last straw." Former South Africa and Italy coach NICK MALLETT "may be interested in the position, while Robinson's assistant SCOTT JOHNSON could also be a contender" (SUNDAY TIMES, 11/25). ... Russian Premier League club FC Spartak Moscow has fired coach UNAI EMERY in the wake of its 5-1 home defeat by the hands of rivals FC Dynamo Moscow. Spartak CEO VALERI KARPIN said, "Following a board meeting, it has been agreed that Unai Emery will no longer be coach of Spartak. The next steps the club will take will be announced in the coming days" (UEFA).
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