Kontinental Hockey League club SKA St. Petersburg fired Finnish head coach JUKKA JALONEN on Friday after a "disappointing playoff run," replacing him with former Russian national team coach and Olympic Gold Medalist VYACHESLAV BYKOV. SKA is among the "best-funded teams in the KHL" and boasts former NHL New Jersey Devils player ILYLA KOVALCHUK, but was "eliminated by eighth-seeded Lokomotiv Yaroslavl last week in the Western Conference semifinals" (R-SPORT, 4/4). ... Rugby League Int'l Federation Chair SCOTT CARTER's "decision to stand down" left the body "looking for a new chairman." Carter, who replaced COLIN LOVE in '11, "has also given up his role as New Zealand Rugby League's chairman, citing business reasons." The RLIF is "expected to name Carter's successor in Sydney" on May 2 (BBC, 4/6). ... Middlesex County Cricket Club announced that former captain ANDREW STRAUSS will join the club’s exec board. Middlesex CCC Exec Board member PAUL DOWNTON stepped down to take over his new role with the England & Wales Cricket Board as managing director of England Cricket (Middlesex CCC). ... EPL side Aston Villa CEO PAUL FAULKNER has been appointed as an EPL representative on the FA board during the duration of ANTHONY FRY’s illness. Faulkner will step down if and when Fry is able to resume his duties (The FA).
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