National Rugby League side South Sydney CEO JOHN LEE "has emerged as the frontrunner" to take over as the new CEO at NRL rival Sydney Roosters. Lee has "caught the eye" of Roosters Chair NICK POLITIS, who is "on the look-out for an experienced administrator to lead the club" following the departure of BRIAN CANAVAN to the Gold Coast Titans. Politis "has been impressed with Lee's handling of a number of crises at Redfern," including the prescription drug incident involving DYLAN WALKER and AARON GRAY and "the fallout" from RUSSELL CROWE's "infamous bonding camp at Nana Glen." The Roosters have not had a CEO since STEVE NOYCE left in '12, with Canavan taking over in a chief operating capacity (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 2/10). ... Social media publishing tool SOLIVE named FLORENT MARTY managing director of sales & marketing. His 18 years' experience in sports includes 11 with the EMEA HQ of the NBA and three as VP, marketing & development at Lagardère (SOLIVE). ... Nike named ADAM SUSSMAN its first chief digital officer. He will report to Nike Brand President TREVOR EDWARDS. Sussman will lead the team responsible for digital products and services across Nike.com, Nike+ and Brand Digital platforms. Sussman previously worked for EA Mobile and Disney Interactive (Nike). ... NICK MWENDWA was voted in as the new president of the Football Kenya Federation. He won 50 of the 77 votes cast, "to beat out his only rival," Kenyan side Gor Mahia Chair AMBROSE RACHIER. Incumbent SAM NYAMWEYA withdrew from the elections just before the voting began (BBC, 2/10).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Manager RONNIE MOORE has left League Two side Hartlepool less than 10 months "after guiding them to a remarkable great escape." The club announced that Moore "had gone by mutual consent after Tuesday night’s 2-1 home defeat to Stevenage left them just one place and four points above the relegation zone" (PA, 2/10). ... Moroccan national football team coach EZAKI BADU was sacked on Wednesday "after 20 months on the job." The Moroccan Football Federation "has not yet named his successor" (EFE, 2/10). ... Serie A side Palermo confirmed the appointment of GIOVANNI BOSI as coach, replacing GUILLERMO BARROS SCHELOTTO. The Argentine coach left the Rosanero on Wednesday after UEFA "failed to accept" his license to coach in Serie A. Palermo President MAURIZIO ZAMPARINI said, "He’ll be assisted by GIOVANNI TEDESCO and Palermo-native FRANCESCO SICARI has also been promoted from the Primavera team to help with athletic preparation" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 2/10). Palermo appointed Schelotto on Jan. 10, but he was "not allowed to lead the team at matches, pending approval" by UEFA. He led Argentine first division club Lanús for three years. A UEFA license "cannot be issued unless the manager has a minimum of five years' experience" (REUTERS, 2/10). ... Former Egypt int'l striker MIDO was fired by Zamalek "little more than a month after he took charge" of the Cairo club for the second time. He was dismissed on Tuesday, "hours after second-placed Zamalek lost 2-0 to premier league leaders Al Ahli in the Cairo derby, played in Alexandria for security reasons." He will be replaced by MOHAMED SALAH, who becomes Zamalek's fourth coach this season (REUTERS, 2/10).
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