Australian Football League side Richmond has named PEGGY O'NEAL "the first female club president in AFL history." American-born O'Neal, a lawyer, "has lived in Australia for the past 24 years and served on the Richmond board" since late '05. Her elevation to succeed the retiring GARY MARCH "was decided at a board meeting on Thursday." The role "was expected to go to" either investment banker MAURICE O'SHANNASSY or veteran sports administrator MALCOLM SPEED. March acknowledged that while O'Neal's elevation "may seem surprising to outsiders given her low profile, he insisted it was no surprise to him." March: ''There were many capable candidates, but she was one of the outstanding candidates and she got the position on merit" (THE AGE, 10/3). ... Japanese Baseball League club Yokohama BayStars Manager KIYOSHI NAKAHATA "will stay on" next season "after agreeing to a new one-year deal on Thursday." Nakahata "had been ready to face the music after a disappointing season, but the 59-year-old got the backing of the BayStars and accepted a new contract" from club Owner MAKOTO HARUTA (KYODO, 10/3). ... Former Japanese Baseball League SoftBank Hawks and Yomiuri Giants player HIROKI KOKUBO "has accepted an offer to manage Japan's national baseball team." The infielder reached 2,000 career hits in '12 and retired at the end of that season and "has been working as an analyst in the media since." He has "neither coached nor managed" (KYODO, 10/3). ... Second Bundesliga side Fortuna Dusseldorf board member THOMAS ALLOFS has resigned from this position. Allofs was a board member since '03. The board announced Allofs' position will remain vacant for the moment (Fortuna Dusseldorf). ... MANUEL QUINTANAR has been named president of the Spanish Agency for Sports Health (AEPSAD). Quintanar, a "government delegate in Madrid," will replace ANA MUÑOZ (EL MUNDO, 10/3).
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