EPL side Aston Villa has announced that CEO PAUL FAULKNER "will step down." Prior to joining Villa, Faulkner "had worked closely" with Aston Villa Chair RANDY LERNER "in a variety of capacities within his organisation." Faulkner "has parted on good terms." He "has offered his support to the Villa organisation to ensure a smooth transition." CFO ROBIN RUSSELL, "who was recruited by the Chairman in 2006 to come in as Chief Financial Officer," will "step in as acting Chief Executive to maintain continuity" (BIRMINGHAM MAIL, 7/8). The PA reported Aston Villa's "summer of upheaval continued." Owner RANDY LERNER "put Villa up for sale" at the end of last season. Several weeks ago, the club sacked assistant manager IAN CULVERHOUSE and Head of Football Operations GARY KARSA "following an internal investigation into off-field issues." The loss of Faulkner "serves as another blow to the club" (PA, 7/8).
MORE EXECS: Arabian Gulf League side Ajman has appointed FATHI AL JABAL as its new coach. Al Jabal replaces ABDULWAHAB ABDULQADIR at the club. Al Jabal, 51, "has been working with the Saudi club Al Fateh since 2008" (THE NATIONAL, 7/8). ... The Royal & Ancient appointed Argentina Golf Association Exec Dir MARK LAWRIE as director of Latin America. Lawrie will help stage the Latin America Amateur Championship, a joint initiative between the R&A, the Masters and the USGA. Lawrie will also oversee the development of the R&A in Latin America (R&A). ... Business advisor TONY MCGRATH "has been appointed to the Australian Rugby League Commission." He replaces PETER GREGG, "who retired in February this year." McGrath "is a former partner at KPMG and co-founder of respected restructuring and advisory firm McGrathNicol." He is "also on the boards of QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited, the National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation, as well as Special Olympics Australia" (AAP, 7/8). ... Twitter promoted VP/Int’l Market Development KATIE JACOBS STANTON to VP/Global Media. She will assume the duties handled by former Twitter VP/Media CHLOE SLADDEN, who departed in June. Stanton “steps into a highly visible role,” becoming the “lead liaison to a range of industries including TV, sports and music” (VARIETY, 7/8).
IN SPAIN: La Liga side Deportivo La Coruña confirmed that coach FERNANDO VAZQUEZ "has been sacked despite guiding the club to promotion." After "criticising the board for their slowness in the transfer market this summer, the Riazor outfit have revealed that they have dispensed of Vazquez’s services" (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 7/8). ... Spanish second division side Las Palmas officially introduced PACO HERRERA as its new coach. Las Palmas President MIGUEL ÁNGEL RAMÍREZ, Sporting Dir General TONI CRUZ and Sporting Dir NICO RODRÍGUEZ attended Herrera's introduction as coach (Las Palmas).
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