Welsh rugby "has suffered another significant blow" with the news that GERALD DAVIES, the "hugely respected former Wales and British and Irish Lions wing, is to stand down from the board of directors of the Welsh Rugby Union."
Davies "will not seek re-election to the board, having served as a national representative on it since 2005." Davies, who also sat on the Int'l Rugby Board, "was seen as the voice of reason in the ever-complex politics of Welsh rugby and it seems highly probable that he has decided to step down through frustration with the way the game in Wales is currently being run" under CEO ROGER LEWIS and Chair DAVID PICKERING (London TELEGRAPH, 7/3). ... Turkish top flight football club Galatasaray has appointed former Italy Manager CESARE PRANDELLI as its new coach. The Istanbul-based club, which had held an "exchange of ideas" with former ManU Manager DAVID MOYES, was "looking for a new coach after parting company" with Italian tactician ROBERTO MANCINI last month.
Prandelli "resigned as Italy boss after the national team's 1-0 defeat to Uruguay at the World Cup" (PA, 7/7). ... Serie A side Chievo Sporting Dir GIOVANNI SARTORI resigned from his position.
Sartori "spent the last 22 years with the Gialloblu" and, alongside President LUCA CAMPEDELLI, "is credited with constructing the teams that various coaches through the years have managed to keep afloat in Serie A." Reports quickly emerged on Monday morning that "he was considering a break from the game and have been followed up by the club’s own official confirmation" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 7/7). ... British bookmaker William Hill on Friday appointed Dir JAMES HENDERSON, who has been with the company for almost three decades, as its new CEO. William Hill Chair GARETH DAVIS said Henderson came out "head and shoulders" on top of a list of around 14 "credible candidates" to succeed RALPH TOPPING (London TELEGRAPH, 7/4). ... Former La Liga side Real Betis Manager JUAN CARLOS GARRIDO has been named Egyptian side Al Ahly's new coach (EL CONFIDENCIAL, 7/7).
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