National Rugby League CEO DAVE SMITH "has resigned after three years in the code's top job." A former banker, Smith was appointed as CEO of the Australian Rugby League Commission -- which manages the NRL -- in Nov. '12. He will leave the role on Nov. 30 and was expected to announce his decision to staff on Tuesday. NRL Chair JOHN GRANT is "expected to take over" as interim CEO (9 NEWS, 10/20). ... ManU Head of Marketing JONATHAN RIGBY left the club "to take up the role of director of marketing & fundraising at BBC Children In Need." Rigby, who worked for the club for five years, "in the past year has overseen" the record-breaking £750M ($1.16B) deal with adidas and increased fan engagement through digital channels. Before ManU, Rigby "held a number of roles at ad agencies" including WCRS, Lowe and Love (MARKETING MAGAZINE, 10/16). ... Scottish Championship side Rangers "made their third off-field signing in a week" after bringing in NEIL MCILHARGEY as head of analysis. McIlhargey worked under MARK WARBURTON at Brentford, "where he provided the science behind the game." McIlhargey is the Rangers' "third appointment of the past seven days" and follows Fitness Coach CRAIG FLANNIGAN and Head of Recruitment FRANK MCPARLAND (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 10/19).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Liga MX side Tijuana sacked Manager RUBEN OMAR after his team won just four of its first 13 games of the season. He is the fifth coach to be sacked so far this season, as Dorados, Chivas, Cruz Azul and Santos Laguna have already made coaching changes (MARCA, 10/19). ... Spanish second division side Almería named JOAN CARRILLO its new coach. Carrillo, who replaces SERGI BARJUAN, will coach Almería for the rest of the season (MARCA, 10/19). ... League Championship side Leeds United parted company with German Manager UWE ROSLER "after he spent just five months in charge of the second-tier club." Italian Owner MASSIMO CELLINO has "now gone through five managers" since he bought the club in April '14. Media reports said former Rotherham United Manager STEVE EVANS "was set to take over from Rosler" (REUTERS, 10/19).
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