New CONMEBOL President ALEJANDRO DOMÌNGUEZ's election was confirmed when the other candidate, WILMAR VALDEZ, head of Uruguay's FA, "dropped from the race." Domìnguez is a Paraguayan economist "belonging to one of the richest families in the country." When he realized that Domìnguez had managed to convince the two major confederations from the region, Brazil and Argentina, Valdez said, "This is not my election so I will continue as head of the Uruguayan football association." On Tuesday representatives from the 10-member CONMEBOL "are scheduled to meet at Luque," when Dominguez is expected to replace ANGEL NAPOUT (MERCO PRESS, 1/25). ... Virgin Sport named California-based Specialized Bicycle Components Head of Women's Product & Brand ERIN SPRAGUE global head of marketing & custom experience and former N.Y. Road Runners Manager of Strategy & Operations JESSICA FREY director of strategy and planning (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/25 issue). ... The Indians promoted scout KOBY PEREZ to director of Latin American baseball operations, replacing RAMON PENA, who "recently left the organization after five years" (CLEVELAND, 1/23).
... Former Super League referee STEVE GANSON "has been named the Rugby Football League head of match officials" following JON SHARPE's '15 exit.
Ganson, 46, "has been the department's coach and technical director for the past three years." Sharp left the department last season "to take up a head coach role at Championship side Featherstone Rovers" (BBC, 1/25).
MANOR HIRE: F1's smallest team, Manor Racing, announced on Monday that PAT FRY was joining as an engineering consultant, "bringing another former McLaren employee on board."
The move "reunited three senior figures from McLaren's past" with former chief engineer Fry joining Aerodynamics Head NIKOLAS TOMBAZIS and Racing Dir DAVE RYAN "also at a team that is switching to Mercedes engines." Manor has "yet to name a principal," with Founder JOHN BOOTH and Sporting Dir GRAEME LOWDON "departing at the end of last year, or their 2016 driver lineup" (REUTERS, 1/25). Fry, 51, from Surrey, "is one of the most familiar faces in the F1 pitlane with almost 30 years’ experience." This "will be a new challenge to work in a team with the smallest budget in the sport but big ambitions to become one of the successful British names" (LONDON TIMES, 1/25).
COACHES/MANAGERS: French national women’s handball team head coach ALAIN PORTES was “dismissed from his position on Monday.” Portes’ predecessor OLIVIER KRUMBHOLZ “was chosen as the replacement.” Krumbholz coached France from ’98-13 before Portes took over in ’13 (L’ÉQUIPE, 1/25). ... Scotland women's cricket head coach KARI CARSWELL "stepped down after five years in charge of the national team."
Carswell "will continue in her role as women's cricket manager at Cricket Scotland." Carswell "intends to focus her efforts on development pathways and progressing the sport in Scotland" (BBC, 1/25).
