Former MLB GM RANDY SMITH will be a senior adviser to the GM and MLB scouting director for Pacific League side Nippon Ham Fighters. Smith, previously GM for the San Diego Padres ('93-95) and Detroit Tigers ('96-02), "rejoined the Padres front office" in '03, but was fired this past October. The Fighters have a "working agreement with San Diego Padres, whose spring training facility they currently use in February" (KYODO, 12/22). ... French Volleyball Federation (FFVB) President ÉRIC TANGUY was reelected at the FFVB’s exec board meeting with 65.7% of the votes. Tanguy beat out LAURENT TORRECILLAS for the position (FFVB). ... Constantin Medien AG CFO LEIF ARNE ANDERS resigned for health reasons. His successor is PETER BRAUNHOFER, who has been with the company since Dec. ’07 (Constantin Medien AG).
COACHES/MANAGERS: EPL side Crystal Palace sacked Manager ALAN PARDEW, with former England Manager SAM ALLARDYCE the "early favourite to replace him at Selhurst Park." Pardew, who signed a "new long-term contract" in the summer after leading Palace to the FA Cup final in May, "is expected to receive a payoff" in the region of £5M ($6M). Palace paid around £2.5M "compensation to Newcastle when he left" the club last year (London GUARDIAN, 12/22). ... Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais announced Manager MIKAËL SILVESTRE left his position in mutual agreement with the club. Silvestre had managed the team since July ’15 (Stade Rennais). ... Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach appointed DIETER HECKING as its new head coach in succession to the sacked ANDRE SCHUBERT. Hecking, 52, has signed a contract until June '19, with Gladbach saying the former Wolfsburg coach was "absolutely the right man" for the job (ESPN.com, 12/22). ... The South African FA announced EPHRAIM MASHABA has been sacked as South Africa coach "despite leading the side to a crucial World Cup qualifying victory over Senegal last month." A disciplinary committee "found Mashaba guilty of several offences following his public outburst" aimed at SAFA President DANNY JORDAAN and guests directly after the 2-1 victory over Senegal on Nov. 12. Mashaba was reportedly "unhappy at what he perceived was a lack of support from his superiors" (REUTERS, 12/22).
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