Formula One Deputy Race Dir MICHAEL BLASH, who has been part of the sport for 50 years and managed the Brabham team run by BERNIE ECCLESTONE in the '70s, "is to step down at the end of the season." FIA said that the 67-year-old would be replaced by Frenchman LAURENT MEKIES, "who will also continue as FIA safety director." Blash and Race Dir CHARLIE WHITING, who also worked at Brabham in the '70s with F1 CEO Ecclestone, "have been an important double act in Formula One" since the '90s (REUTERS, 7/5). ... With AC Milan's change of ownership, ADRIANO GALLIANI will become exec VP, "while the CEO role will go to NICHOLAS GANCIKOFF." The difference in terms of Galliani's "future responsibilities is still not exactly clear." BARBARA BERLUSCONI "also shared the role of CEO, but she dealt with the club's commercial side." While she "may retain a position within the board, she is likely to be given a different title too." The full CEO responsibilities will go to Gancikoff, "who will become Milan's go-to man for all financial matters" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 7/6). ... The Bureau of the FIFA Council appointed TOMAŽ VESEL of Slovenia as the independent chair of FIFA's Audit & Compliance Committee until the 67th FIFA Congress, with immediate effect. Vesel currently serves as president of the court of auditors in Slovenia having been elected by the national assembly of the Republic of Slovenia in '13. The court of auditors is the highest body for supervising state accounts, the state budget and all public spending in Slovenia. In addition to his work in Slovenia, Vesel has worked with numerous European governments and the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development as an expert adviser (FIFA).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Italian 2006 World Cup winner GIANLUCA ZAMBROTTA has been "appointed as the new head coach" of Indian Super League side Delhi Dynamos. After his retirement, the former Barcelona, AC Milan and Juventus defender "had a coaching stint with Swiss club Chiasso" from '13-15 and will replace Brazilian ROBERTO CARLOS, who guided the club to the ISL semifinals last season (REUTERS, 7/6). ... Former Juventus defender CIRO FERRARA "has been appointed as manager of second-tier Chinese football club Wuhan Zall." Ferrara's appointment was reportedly "confirmed on Tuesday." Ferrara was "a central figure at Juventus where he spent 11 years as a player." Ferrara was also appointed as assistant to his mentor, MARCELO LIPPI, "when Italy won the World Cup" in '06. This "led him to become manager" at Juventus for the '09-10 season (JAKARTA GLOBE, 7/6). ... Scottish Premiership side Motherwell and Northern Ireland Assistant Manager STEPHEN ROBINSON is "set to be appointed as the new Oldham Athletic boss." Oldham has been "looking for a new manager since the departure of JOHN SHERIDAN, who left to take over at Notts County." Robinson "is being tipped to name IAN BARACLOUGH as his assistant" (BBC, 7/6). ... Serie A side Lazio confirmed the appointment of MARCELO BIELSA as its new coach "after lengthy negotiations with the former Argentina manager." Bielsa, who has been without a post since "abruptly leaving Marseille after the first match of last season, will arrive in the Italian capital at the weekend to sign his new deal." Bielsa had "also been linked with a return to the Argentina national side" -- a post he held between '98 and '04 (London GUARDIAN, 7/6). ... Argentina "moved quickly" to name JULIO OLARTICOECHEA as the coach of its national football team for the Olympics. He replaces GERARDO MARTINO. Olarticoechea was a defender on the Argentine squad that won the 1986 World Cup and "has been coaching the country's youth teams" (AFP, 7/6).
