Ascenso MX club Atlante named local hotel and radio businessman JOSÉ GABRIEL GUTIÉRREZ LAVÍN its new president, replacing LUIS CÁMARA PATRÓN (NOTIMEX, 10/18). ... The Int'l Table Tennis Federation Exec Committee appointed FRANK JI as the special advisor to the ITTF president for commerce and business. Ji has been a major commercial supporter to the ITTF in the last two years through a strategic investment partnership with the new form of table tennis, Table Tennis X, as well as having his company, Seamaster, as the title sponsor of the ITTF World Tour (ITTF). ... A-League side Brisbane Roar announced DAVID POURRE as its managing director. Pourre served as the club's CEO in '15-16 and commercial director for a number of years (Brisbane Roar).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Spanish second division side Córdoba named JUAN MERINO its new coach. Merino replaces LUIS CARRIÓN and signed a contract for the rest of the current season as well as '18-19 (MARCA, 10/18). ... League One side Oldham Athletic appointed RICHIE WELLENS as manager on a two-year deal after a five-game spell as caretaker. Wellens, 37, was "put in charge" after JOHN SHERIDAN was sacked in September. He has won four of his five games in charge in all competitions (BBC, 10/18). ... The Hungarian FA said that it "parted company" with national team coach BERND STORCK by mutual consent after he failed to guide the team to next year’s World Cup. Storck managed Hungary for 25 games, winning eight, drawing seven and losing 10 (REUTERS, 10/17). ... Former Algerian int’l RABAH MADJER will replace LUCAS ALCARAZ as Algeria’s national football team manager. Madjer will be assisted by fellow former Algerian int’l DJAMEL MÉNAD (BBC, 10/18).
