Scottish Championship side Rangers shareholder MIKE ASHLEY appointed "one of the retail entrepreneur’s trusted football advisers as chief executive." DEREK LLAMBIAS "takes up the post with immediate effect." He "had joined Rangers as a non-executive director," nominated by Ashley, last month. His appointment comes four days after the Scottish FA launched a formal complaint against the club and Ashley for alleged breaches of its “dual interest” rules (FINANCIAL TIMES, 12/19). ... Former Athletics Australia head coach ERIC HOLLINGSWORTH "landed
his first job since resigning amid controversy in September," hired as a
contractor to review the basketball operations and elite practices at
National Basketball League club Melbourne United. Hollingsworth
"attracted national headlines in July following his spectacular falling out with Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter" SALLY PEARSON during the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Hollingsworth "is no stranger to basketball,"
having previously been president of McKinnon basketball
association. United officials "have confirmed that his role could become
permanent" (THE AGE, 12/21).
FIFA REPLACES GARCIA: FIFA's exec committee appointed CORNEL BORBELY, a "lawyer who has worked with the Swiss military," to replace MICHAEL GARCIA. Borbely previously worked as Garcia's deputy. FIFA President SEPP BLATTER: "Although we are disappointed that our work with Mr. Garcia has ended this way, I want to make it clear that our commitment to ethical standards is stronger than ever" (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES, 12/19).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Argentine first division side Quilmes President ANÍBAL FERNÁNDEZ announced that JULIO CÉSAR FALCIONI will take over as the team's coach. Falcioni "replaces PABLO QUATROCCHI" (CADENA 3, 12/21). ... Former Brazilian football player ROBERTO CARLOS on Sunday "resigned as coach of Turkish top flight side Sivasspor after a succession of poor results." The reports said that SERGEN YALCIN, "one of the most celebrated Turkish footballers of recent decades, had been appointed as his successor." Most recently, Yalcin "had until 2014 been managing Gaziantepspor" (AFP, 12/21). ... Former West Brom Manager PEPE MEL "has been appointed" coach of La Liga side Real Betis until the end of the season. It "is the second time Mel has taken over as manager of the side he also played for as a striker" (REUTERS, 12/20).
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