Former V8 Supercars champion MARCOS AMBROSE "is set to return to V8 Supercars next year to lead an assault" by American Team Owner ROGER PENSKE.
Ambrose "is expected to be announced on Tuesday as the driver of
Penske's new V8 entry," which will be run in an alliance with Dick
Johnson Racing. He "has been linked to a return to V8s with Penske since
December last year, when the Detroit-based business mogul's racing
chief attended the season-ending Sydney 500" (THE AGE, 9/14). ... EPL Newcastle United Manager ALAN PARDEW
"has the dubious distinction of being the first Premier League manager
to hear the sound of the axe being sharpened after his hapless Newcastle
United side were thumped 4-0 by Southampton on Saturday." The team's
form at the "tail end of last season," when it lost seven of its last
eight fixtures, "has left Pardew the most likely of the 20 top-flight
managers to be seeking new employment in the near future" (REUTERS, 9/13).
FIGHTING THE TAXMAN: Spain's Internal Revenue authorities said on Friday that "football
clubs have to fulfill their financial obligations like anyone else" and
announced that they are "considering taking legal action" against
Spanish Football League (LFP) President JAVIER TEBAS, who said,
"Tax authorities want to liquidate the clubs." The body responded to
Tebas's comments and "lamented the accusations and absolutely unfounded
insults" from the LFP president (EFE, 9/12). ... During a 2-1 loss at home to La Liga rival Atlético, a section of Real Madrid's fans chanted at club President FLORENTINO PEREZ, "Florentino, dimisión" ("Florentino, resignation") (AS, 9/13). ... The 2014 National Rugby League premiership ring which, worth a "staggering" A$8,000 ($7,200), "is the most expensive Grand Final prize in more than 100 years."
Designed by Sydney jeweler ALLAN ZREICK, "each piece has 39 diamonds" -- with the NRL outlaying A$160,000 for 20 of them. Zreick: "These rings are easily the most expensive we’ve ever done" (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 9/15). ... SLOBODAN PAVKOVIC "has resigned from his post as technical director" of the FA of Singapore "to look for a new challenge."
The Serb, 58, "whose main portfolio was to oversee youth development, is on the lookout for a job at club level after spending more than six years with FAS" (THE NEW PAPER, 9/12).
PERFORMANCE REVIEW: Adidas investors "are putting pressure on
the German sporting-goods giant to accelerate a turnaround, and even
discussed with executives the possible removal" of longtime
CEO HERBERT HAINER. Adidas "has struggled this year, hurt by its lagging golf and Reebok
businesses." Adidas shares "have fallen roughly 38% in so far this year,
compared with Nike's 10% gain." In meetings with adidas representatives, "large shareholders have criticized the performance" of Hainer (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/12).
