Arsenal Manager ARSÈNE WENGER "has signed a contract" to stay at Arsenal until '17. Wenger signed a three-year deal, "meaning that he will have spent two decades at the north London club when it runs out." Wenger "is already the longest-serving manager in the football league," having joined Arsenal in '96 (FINANCIAL TIMES, 5/30). ... JOHN O'SHEA "will step back from being the public face of Darley's racing interests to concentrate on learning about his team of more than 400 horses." Racing manager JASON WALSH "will handle most of the interviews for at least the first six months of O'Shea's tenture." O'Shea: "I have to learn about 400 horses and I'm still getting my head around the operation and how is the best way for me to operate" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 6/1). ... The architect of Sky's move into "high-quality TV drama," Managing Dir of Content SOPHIE TURNER LAING, "is to leave the company." Sky "has sought to emphasise the importance of non-sports content after losing the rights to Champions League football to telecoms group BT" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 5/30). ... PETA SEARLE has become the Australia Football League's "first full-time female assistant coach" after accepting a position at St. Kilda. Searle "is expected to begin work immediately as a development coach at Seaford after her last game as assistant coach" under DANIEL HARFORD at St. Kevin’s Old Boys on Saturday. Searle was the "first female assistant coach in the Victorian Football League with Port Melbourne." Searle said that she "gave up her dream of coaching within the AFL just last month due to financial restraints" (HERALD SUN, 6/1). ... Former FIFA exec JEROME CHAMPAGNE "won't step aside" when FIFA President SEPP BLATTER announces next month that he will be seeking a fifth term. Champagne: "An election is an election. Don't ask me to tell you now what will be the end result. I leave that to the pundits and I leave that to the journalists" (AP, 5/30).
LEEDS CHANGES: GIANLUCA FESTA is "getting the nod" to replace BRIAN MCDERMOTT as Leeds United manager. Former Sheffield Wednesday striker BENI CARBONE "will manage" Leeds United's U21 and academy squads (London DAILY MIRROR, 5/31). The London TELEGRAPH reported McDermott's departure was reported on Leeds United's website. His exit "had been widely expected" after MASSIMO CELLINO took over the club (TELEGRAPH, 5/31).
N.Y. STATE OF MIND: Former Chelsea midfielder FRANK LAMPARD "has agreed a free transfer" to Major League Soccer side New York City FC -- and Atlético Madrid marksman DAVID VILLA "is set to join him." Lampard and Villa met with NYC FC head coach JASON KREIS, who was hired in January by Man City CEO FERRAN SORIANO. Both deals "are a huge statement of intent" from Man City's U.S. franchise which kicks off in the new MLS season in March. Lampard "is understood to be have agreed to a basic wage significantly less" than the £150,000 ($251,000) a week that he earned up at Chelsea (London DAILY MIRROR, 5/31).
