IAN CATHRO has been appointed head coach of Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian "after agreeing terms on a three-and-a-half-year contract." The 30-year-old Scot left his role as assistant coach at Championship side Newcastle United and began work at Riccarton on Tuesday. Cathro has "previously worked as assistant coach in Portugal with Rio Ave and in Spain with Valencia." Hearts Owner ANN BUDGE said that Cathro is the "ideal candidate" to succeed ROBBIE NEILSON as head coach (SCOTSMAN, 12/5). ... Belgian Jupiler Pro League side Excel Mouscron announced MIRCEA REDNIC as its new head coach. Rednic replaces GLEN DE BOECK, and has signed a contract that runs until the end of the season (Excel Mouscron). ... SAMMY LEE has "left his position as England assistant manager." The 57-year-old was appointed as SAM ALLARDYCE's assistant in July and "kept the role following the manager's sacking" and during GARETH SOUTHGATE's subsequent time as interim boss. Southgate was given a four-year deal by the FA last Wednesday and "decided against keeping Lee" (BBC, 12/6). ... Bundesliga side Darmstadt dismissed head coach NORBERT MEIER and Sport Dir HOLGER FACH, "less than 24 hours after a 2-0 defeat to Hamburg" left Darmstadt in the Bundesliga relegation playoff berth. RAMON BERNDROTH, who is director of the club's youth academy, has been "appointed on a caretaker basis until a new permanent coach can be found" (PA, 12/5). ... Irish Rowing has appointed two new coaches. DOMINIC CASEY, who coached PAUL and GARY O'DONOVAN to a Silver Medal at the Olympic Games in Rio, has been "appointed to a full-time position." He will "take charge of the lightweight group." SEAN CASEY, who rowed with the Ireland heavyweight four in Beijing and has been coaching with Reading University in England, "has taken up a temporary post dealing with heavyweight rowers" (IRISH TIMES, 12/6). ... V.League 1 side Thanh Hóa signed coach LJUBOMIR PETROVIC of Serbia for the upcoming football season. The contract's value and length have not been revealed. The 69-year-old coach has 34 years' experience in Europe, the Middle East and China. HCM City FC also signed a foreign coach, bringing former Ligue 1 coach ALAIN FIARD on board (VIETNAM NEWS, 12/6).
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