THIBAUT POTDEVIN has joined the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, the creator and organizer of the Le Mans 24 Hours as marketing and sales manager. He will be attached to FRÉDÉRIC LÉNART, the ACO GM, and will also report to GÉRARD NEVEU, GM of the Le Mans Endurance management company, a subsidiary of the ACO in charge of the FIA World Endurance Championship and the European Le Mans Series. In direct collaboration with FRÉDÉRIC GARCIA, he will ensure the development of marketing partnerships and TV coverage of the World Endurance Championship. Potdevin was born in Tours and worked for the Lagardère Group and the AFP before joining UEFA in '07. In succession, he negotiated the media rights, partnerships and hospitality sales for the 2008, 2012 and 2016 European Football Championship as well as those for the Champions League (Le Mans).
COACHES/MANAGERS: ROSS RUSSELL has replaced RANDY WALDRUM as coach of Trinidad and Tobago's women's football team, "ahead of the Pan American Games and the Caribbean Football Union Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament." The Trinidad & Tobago FA said, "Due to club commitments (with Houston Dash in his native United States), Waldrum is unable to resume his duties as coach during the period covering the Pan American Games and CFU Olympic Qualifying Tournament" (NEWS DAY, 5/26). ... Brasileiro side Flamengo "decided to terminate" coach VANDERLEI LUXEMBURGO on Monday. Luxemburgo left the club "without achieving any titles" after his fourth turn coaching the club (TERRA, 5/25). ... League Championship side Derby County has "terminated the contract" of head coach STEVE MCCLAREN. The club said that it "made the decision following a 'thorough review'" of the '14-15 season. McClaren, 54, who has been "strongly linked with the managerial job at Newcastle," joined Derby in Sept. '13 and led it to the Championship playoff final in '14. In a statement, McClaren said, "I'm very disappointed with the decision" (BBC, 5/25). ... One week after Brasileiro side Grêmio announced that it sacked FELIPÃO, the club has "arranged the contracting of a substitute." ROGER MACHADO "signed a contract with the club until the end of the year" (FOLHA DE SÃO PAULO, 5/26). ... ROBERTO DI MATTEO has "resigned as manager" of Bundesliga side Schalke 04 after seven and a half months in charge. Di Matteo, 44, took over in Oct. '14 and "steered the Bundesliga side from 11th to third." Di Matteo said that he "resigned because of a difference of opinion over plans for next season following a meeting" with the club's Dir of Sport HORST HELDT (BBC, 5/26).
