National Rugby League side Gold Coast Titans CEO BRIAN CANAVAN has been appointed as the NRL's new head of football. He will take over from TODD GREENBERG, who was promoted to CEO in March. Canavan will step down from his role with the Titans. Before working at the Titans, Canavan "had previously spent 18 years in senior roles at the Sydney Roosters including CEO, assistant coach and football manager." He was also a special project consultant for the Australian Rugby League and NRL for four years (AAP, 5/17). ... Queensland's all-time leading wicket-taker MICHAEL KASPROWICZ has been appointed Queensland Cricket's interim CEO. Kasprowicz "steps into the role left vacant" by GEOFF COCKERILL's resignation last month as the Queensland Cricket board "searches for a permanent replacement" (AAP, 5/18). ... Former FA exec ADRIAN BEVINGTON "has left his advisory role at relegated Aston Villa after less than two months in the post." The departure of Bevington comes a month after DAVID BERNSTEIN and MERVYN KING resigned from the club's board (BBC, 5/17). .... Former France int’l ÉRIC DI MECO “is leaving beIN Sports” after being with the channel since ’12. Di Meco worked for four years with CHRISTOPHE JOSSE commenting on Ligue 1, Champions League and 2014 World Cup matches (MEDIA SPORTIF, 5/17). ... With its promotion to Ligue 1, FC Metz has announced a restructuring of its sporting direction. Sporting Dir CARLOS FREITAS, who has been in his position since June ’15, will become the advisor to the club president for the int’l transfer market. Deputy General Dir PHILIPPE GAILLOT will remain in his position but will see his responsibilities increased with more of a focus on the club’s sporting projects. Former FC Metz player (’95-97) and ‘96 Coupe de la Ligue champion FRÉDÉRIC ARPINON was named to the new position of recruitment coordinator (FC Metz).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Spanish football club Getafe, which has been relegated from La Liga to the second division for next season, announced that JUAN EDUARDO ESNAIDER will remain its coach. He arrived at the club with six games left in the current season, and led it to two wins, two draws and two losses (AS, 5/18). ... League Championship side Cardiff City appointed head coach PAUL TROLLOPE “as RUSSELL SLADE’s successor.” Slade was “removed as manager at the end of the season and has taken up a new role as head of football.” Trollope, 43, had been part of Slade’s coaching team since Feb. ’15 and has “also been a member of CHRIS COLEMAN’s Wales backroom staff” (London DAILY MAIL, 5/18). ... Former Tasmanian cricket and three-time Sheffield Shield champion LUKE BUTTERWORTH is joining Cricket ACT as the pathway manager. Butterworth retired halfway through last summer when "back troubles" finally "got the better of him, having played with the Tasmanian Tigers for 13 seasons." Cricket ACT said that the role "will form part of the high-performance unit within Cricket ACT, helping to administer and coach young male and female cricketers" who are looking to play more representative cricket (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 5/18).
Do you have an executive announcement? If so, please send to global@sportsbusinessdaily.com
