Australian Football League Chair MIKE FITZPATRICK, who has been in the role for 10 years, "announced his resignation from the post and will be replaced by his fellow commissioner" RICHARD GOYDER. The 64-year-old Fitzpatrick retires from the AFL Commission "having overseen a successful period of expansion" that featured the creation of two new men's teams -- Greater Western Sydney Giants and Gold Coast Suns -- and the introduction of the AFL Women's. Fitzpatrick leaves his post two rounds into the inaugural AFLW season, "having delivered the popular new women’s league ahead of schedule." During his tenure, the AFL also purchased Etihad Stadium and negotiated three media rights deals, the most recent of which is worth A$2.5B over six years. Goyder, who will not retire from his position as CEO of Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers "until later this year," will take over Fitzpatrick’s role on April 4 (London GUARDIAN, 2/14). ... Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille named ALBERT VALENTIN deputy sports director. Under Sports Dir ANDONI ZUBIZARRETA, Valentin will supervise the technical development of the club. The club also named MIGUEL BERTRAN deputy marketing director. He will be in charge of developing OM’s int’l partnerships (OM). ... PETE MACHIN will be joining Renault from Red Bull in July as the Formula 1 team's head of aerodynamics. Machin “worked on wind tunnel development through Renault-powered Red Bull's four successive world championships” from ’10-13 (REUTERS, 2/14). ... Limelight Sports announced two new appointments, with RICK JENNER named strategy & insights director and IAN SCOFFIELD appointed group financial officer (SPORT INDUSTRY, 2/15). ... ESPN Deportes and ESPN Latin America Manager of Communications GABY NUÑEZ is leaving the network on Friday to join Telemundo, where she will lead the Spanish-language network's PR efforts for sports content (THE DAILY).
COACHES/MANAGERS: LEE CLARK left Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock to become manager at League One club Bury, after Bury agreed to a compensation package with Kilmarnock. The 44-year-old had been in charge at Rugby Park since Feb. ’16, when he replaced GARY LOCKE. Assistants LEE MCCULLOCH and PETER LEVEN “will take charge of Kilmarnock on an interim basis” (BBC, 2/15). ... Turkish Super Lig side Galatasaray appointed former Croatia and Juventus defender IGOR TUDOR its new manager. He succeeds JAN OLDE RIEKERINK, who departed the Turk Telekom Arena on Tuesday (PA, 2/15).
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