Ligue 1 side Bastia has appointed Paris St. Germain Assistant Manager CLAUDE MAKELELE as its new coach. Makelele, "who is set to sign a two-year deal with the Ligue 1 club," replaces FREDERIC HANTZ at the helm in his first managerial role (ESPN, 5/24). ... Ligue 1 side Lyon appointed HUBERT FOURNIER as its new coach. He replaces REMI GARDE. Garde "ended his three-year spell in charge of the seven-time Ligue 1 champions at the end of the domestic season." A former Lyon player, Fournier "had been in charge of Reims for the last four years" (ESPN, 5/23). ... CESARE PRANDELLI "has extended his contract as Italy's national team coach until 2016." He "will remain in charge of the Squadra Azzurra until the end of Euro 2016" (ESPN, 5/26). ... Chinese Basketball Association club Shanghai Sharks unveiled former Sichuan boss MA YUENAN as its new head coach. Ma will take over from WANG QUN. Sharks GM ZHANG MING "has been removed" and replaced by former Deputy Manager ZHANG PEIZHONG (SHANGHAI DAILY, 5/24). ... Spanish second division side Las Palmas announced the dismissal of coach SERGIO LOBERA. Las Palmas assistant coaches JUAN CARLOS SOCORRO and MANU SAYABERA were also dismissed (Las Palmas). ... Argentine first division side Racing named DIEGO COCCA its new coach. Cocca replaces MOSTAZA MERLO, who "resigned three weeks ago" (DIARIO VELOZ, 5/24). ... Dubai Autodrome has appointed BERT GROGOR as sponsorship and business development manager. The 32-year-old from Johannesburg has lived in Dubai since May '08 and "is no stranger to the Autodrome as he has worked at the venue as a Senior Instructor at the Race and Drive Centre for some years" (GULF NEWS, 5/26).
ST. KILDA SHAKEUP: Australian Football League side St. Kilda CEO MATT FINNIS "has overhauled the club's executive weeks after starting at the club," axing the roles of COO TERRY DILLON and Commercial Operations GM SHANE WAKELIN. Finnis has hired Melbourne Rebels GM of Commercial Operations CHRISTINE FINNEGAN as its new COO, "essentially replacing the two roles with one." The club's Merchandise Manager, DALE CHRISTIE, "resigned on Friday" (THE AGE, 5/26).
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