GÉRARD LOPEZ is the new owner and majority shareholder of Ligue 1 side Lille. He is the 17th president in Lille’s history. MARC INGLA was named general director of the club (Lille). ... Scottish Professional Football League Chair RALPH TOPPING announced his retirement "and is expected to step down in the summer." Topping, who helped oversee the union of the former Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League in '13, "revealed his decision to the SPFL General Meeting on Thursday." He has been in the role "for more than seven years and is expected to remain in the post until a successor is appointed in July" (SKY SPORTS, 1/26). ... Premiership rugby side Worcester Warriors appointed GARY GOLD as director of rugby until the end of the season, "with CARL HOGG retaining his position as head coach." Gold, 49, has Premiership coaching experience with London Irish, Newcastle and Bath as well as at the int'l level with his native South Africa (BBC, 1/25). ... Pitch Marketing Group has appointed marketing agency VCCP co-Founder IAN PRIEST as its non-exec chair. In his new role, Priest will work with Pitch’s senior management team, led by CEO HENRY CHAPPELL, to "implement the agency’s sports and entertainment marketing into the creation of mainstream consumer campaigns." He is currently CEO of Grace Blue (THE DRUM, 1/25). ... Serie A side Palermo hired DIEGO LOPEZ as its fourth coach of the season. He signed a contract through June 30, 2018. Lopez, 42, who previously coached Cagliari and Bologna, replaces EUGENIO CORINI (AP, 1/26).
