Jetstar Group CEO JAYNE HRDLICKA was elected Tennis Australia president, "less than two years after joining the board." Hrdlicka became the first woman to be appointed to the role after receiving the support of members at a meeting in Melbourne on Monday. She succeeds CHRIS FREEMAN, who "held the TA presidency in a caretaker role this year" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 10/24). ... AFL side Geelong CEO BRIAN COOK signed a contract extension that will "tie him to the club" until the end of '20. It follows approaches to the "long-serving and highly respected club chief" from at least two of the four Victorian clubs searching for new CEOs. Cook is understood to have been "approached by Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs, and reportedly also was contacted by Carlton" (THE AGE, 10/24). ... Chinese Basketball Association side Shanghai Sharks announced YAO MING resigned as the club's president after commentator SU QUN revealed Yao "sold the majority of his shares in the club." Having recently been named CBA president, Yao has "gradually disconnected himself" from the Shanghai Sharks and announced he "would find a new investor for the team" (SOHU, 10/23).
COACHES/MANAGERS: SCOTT GOWANS was appointed senior coach of North Melbourne's inaugural Australian Football League Women's side. The club is expected to field a team in the Victorian Football League Women's competition for the '19 season (North Melbourne). ... Women's Super League 1 side Chelsea Ladies Manager EMMA HAYES signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal with the club. Chelsea is in first place in the table having won all three of its opening league fixtures, while it has also reached the last 16 of the Champions League. Hayes was linked with the England manager's job after MARK SAMPSON's departure in September, but said that she was "committed" to Chelsea (BBC, 10/23). ... Serie A side Benevento fired coach MARCO BARONI after becoming the first team in league history to lose its first nine matches of the season. The club announced 54-year-old Baroni, who led it out of Serie B last season and into the top flight for the first time, would be replaced by ROBERTO DE ZERBI (REUTERS, 10/24). ... Scottish Championship side Dundee United "parted company" with Manager RAY MCKINNON following back-to-back defeats. The club currently sits fourth in the league, five points behind leader St. Mirren (BBC, 10/24).
