ALREADY DONE: Former Liverpool CEO IAN AYRE "stepped down from his role as managing director at German side 1860 Munich after less than two months at the club," which was relegated to the third tier on Tuesday. Ayre joined Liverpool in '07 and worked his way up to CEO by '13. In a statement, Ayre said, "Unfortunately, during my short eight-week tenure I have found an organisation in which the shareholders are not aligned in a common interest, nor have a shared vision for the future of the club. I feel extremely disappointed to have to step away from this great opportunity" (SKY SPORTS, 5/31).
Star Casino COO DINO MEZZATESTA took over as National Rugby League side Cronulla chair following DAMIAN KEOGH's departure "after being caught with cocaine." Mezzatesta, who has been a club director for the past four years, "was voted into the role at the club’s monthly general meeting on Tuesday." Mezzatesta joined the Cronulla board "on a rebel ticket led by Keogh" in '13 (AAP, 6/1). ... Rugby Football Union Championship side London Irish Rugby Dir NICK KENNEDY signed a "new long-term contract with the club." Technical Dir BRENDAN VENTER and assistant coaches DECLAN DANAHER and PAUL HODGSON also agreed to new deals (BBC, 5/31).
COACHES/MANAGERS: League Championship side Wolverhampton Wolves named former Porto and Valencia Manager NUNO ESPÍRITO SANTO as head coach to succeed PAUL LAMBERT. Nuno, 43, is the seventh man to take charge of the club since Feb. '12 and the fourth coach in 10 months under Chinese owner Fosun. Nuno reportedly signed a three-year contract (BBC, 5/31). ... Relegated to Ligue 2, French club Lorient named MICKAËL LANDREAU its new manager. The former France int’l signed a four-year contract (Lorient). ... LI SUN, former coach of 10-time world champion and four-time Olympic Gold Medalist ZHANG YINING, replaced suspended KONG LINGHUI to "take charge" of the Chinese women's national team at the ongoing World Table Tennis Championships. Kong was suspended as head coach of the Chinese women's team following a lawsuit over a gambling debt filed by a Singaporean hotel (XINHUA, 5/30). ... J.League side Kashima Antlers fired Manager MASATADA ISHII after the club missed its chance to advance to the Asian Champions League quarterfinals. The club said that the 50-year-old manager will be replaced by GO OIWA (KYODO, 5/31). ... League One side Wigan Athletic appointed PAUL COOK as manager on a three-year contract after agreeing to a compensation package with Portsmouth. Cook, 50, had a year left on his deal at Pompey. He replaces interim Manager GRAHAM BARROW (BBC, 5/31).
Do you have an executive announcement? If so, please send to global@sportsbusinessdaily.com
