Antonio Conte is "edging closer" to becoming Chelsea’s new manager after talks led to the club and the 46-year-old agreeing to deals for "some of his backroom staff." The current Italy coach is "the frontrunner" to take over from interim Manager Guus Hiddink in the summer and has met Chelsea "on several occasions over the past few weeks." The former Juventus manager is expected to sign a three-year contract soon, "probably at some point next week." Conte would like to "bring his long-time assistants," Angelo Alessio and Massimo Carrera, as well as another two colleagues with him to west London, with the scouts Mauro Sandreani and Gianluca Conte, his brother, "in the frame for those positions." Chelsea has said in talks that the Italian "can bring in four full-time members of staff" (London GUARDIAN, 3/10).
HAAS SIGNS 17-YEAR-OLD: Haas F1 Team signed 17-year-old Santino Ferrucci as its development driver. The American from Woodbury, Connecticut, will be embedded with Haas F1 Team at every opportunity, attending races and tests throughout the year while also participating in the team’s simulator program. Ferrucci is campaigning the full GP3 Series schedule in '16 for DAMS, which has helped graduate numerous drivers to F1, including Haas driver Romain Grosjean. Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner: "In Formula 1, developing your personnel is as important as developing your racecar. You can’t have one without the other" (Haas F1).
FRANCHISE BRIEFS ...
Arsenal could play Sunday’s FA Cup quarterfinal against Watford "in front of thousands of empty seats after fans were urged to boycott the game in an ongoing protest over ticket prices." Three "prominent supporters' voices -- Black Scarf Movement, REDaction and The Gooner -- have released a joint statement" urging season-ticket holders not to take up their seat "to avoid an additional cost on their renewal for next year." Fans receive seven cup credits as part of their season ticket so they will have to pay between £35 ($50) and £70 ($100) extra "as the game is the eighth home cup match of the season" (London EVENING STANDARD, 3/10).
A-League side Sydney FC fans "could decide on a new club crest to be introduced next year after supporter submissions were put to board level for approval." Sydney FC confirmed its intentions to "refresh the club's image beginning with a new badge." The club stated its preference for the new design "to be an evolution of the current crest rather than a completely new image," still retaining the images and colors associated with the club since its foundation in '04 (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 3/10).
