Premier League side Crystal Palace appointed former player and Manager DOUGIE FREEDMAN as the club's sporting director. Freedman, 43, has not managed since he was sacked by League Championship club Nottingham Forest in March '16 after 13 months in charge. The Scot made 330 league appearances in "two spells at Palace," taking over as manager in Jan. '11 before leaving to join League One side Bolton in Oct. '12 (BBC, 8/21).
COACHES/MANAGERS: National Rugby League side Gold Coast sacked coach NEIL HENRY "in the wake of last week's crisis meetings" at the club. Gold Coast CEO GRAHAM ANNESLEY confirmed the decision on Monday, announcing the club's board "agreed to sack Henry on Saturday." Henry leaves with a year remaining on his contract (AAP, 8/21). ... Former England Manager STEVE MCCLAREN joined Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv "as a coaching consultant." McClaren, 56, has not managed since March, when he was sacked by League Championship side Derby County. He will work under Manager JORDI CRUYFF, who played at ManU when McClaren was ALEX FERGUSON's assistant from '99-01 (BBC, 8/21).
