Former referee HOWARD WEBB has been "promoted to a new role as performance director for England's professional referees and will be the man who selects officials" for Premier League matches. Webb, who retired as a referee last year after a career that included "taking charge of the 2010 World Cup final, has been appointed performance director for the Select Group of referees -- the 17 full-time professional officials." He takes over from KEREN BARRATT, who had "been due to retire but is moving into a different role" (PA, 3/18). ... Sportfive has named OLIVER STEINMETZ senior director of football rights at its office in Hamburg. Steinmetz, who worked in the marketing department of Bundesliga side FC Augsburg, will be replaced by DENNIS KÖNIG, who leaves his position at 2nd Bundesliga side Karlsruhe SC. König's previous role at Karlsruhe will now be filled by 29-year-old SVENJA WIDMANN, the former marketing director at league rival Arminia Bielefeld (Sportfive). ... The Canadian Football League on Tuesday announced that CBC Sports Exec Dir of Sports & GM JEFFREY ORRIDGE "will succeed" MARK COHON as Commissioner. Terms of the deal "weren't released," and Orridge "assumes his new post April 29" (CP, 3/17). ... Premiership Rugby side Newcastle has announced its director of rugby, DEAN RICHARDS, "has signed a new three-year contract." Richards joined in '12 and "led the team to promotion in his first season." Newcastle is 11th in the Premiership table with only London Welsh, "who have picked up one point all season," below it (PA, 3/16).
COACHES/MANAGERS: CHRISTIAN PANUCCI has been "given his first head coach role" by Serie B club Livorno. Panucci, who played for the likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan, "had been working as sporting director at Palermo -- resigning after just one month" -- and as assistant to Russia football Manager FABIO CAPELLO. Panucci "will be assisted" by former Derby County midfielder STEFANO ERANIO (ESPN, 3/18). ... CLAUDINEI OLIVEIRA, who was recently fired by Brasileiro side Atlético Paranaense, was "announced" as Vitória's new coach, "taking the place of RICARDO DRUBSCKY." The announcement "was made on Vitoria's official site Tuesday, one week after" sacking Drubscky and two days after Oliveira "was sacked by Atlético-PR" (UOL, 3/17). ... PHIL SIMMONS is "poised to take over" as head coach of the West Indies in time for its three-Test series against England starting April 13. Simmons, who has been in charge of Ireland since '07 and oversaw its recent World Cup campaign, is understood to have "agreed terms with the West Indies Cricket Board and is expected to be announced in the role following the tournament" (London GUARDIAN, 3/18).
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