League Two club Wycombe Wanderers announced the appointment of DAMIAN IRVINE as its new head of commercial activities. He will take overall responsibility for all sales, ticketing, sponsorship and hospitality opportunities, working with the existing commercial team to help generate revenue by building and maintaining relationships with supporters, partners and sponsors. Irvine will begin his new role on Monday (MAIDENHEAD ADVERTISER, 7/14). ... Former Italy forward GIANFRANCO ZOLA will "take charge" of Qatari side Al Arabi. He signed a two-year deal with the seven-time Qatari champions on Tuesday, bringing with him another ex-Italian forward, PIERLUIGI CASIRAGHI, to assist. Zola has "struggled for management success in England with West Ham United and Watford and at home with Cagliari," which sacked him in March (REUTERS, 7/15). ... Nigeria has appointed former Super Eagles midfielder and captain SUNDAY OLISEH as its new coach. He signed a three-year deal and succeeds STEPHEN KESHI, who was sacked at the start of July. Oliseh, who earned 63 caps for Nigeria and "helped his country win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations" and Olympic Gold in '96, "takes the helm" at a time when Nigeria is "struggling on and off the field." Political fighting within the Nigeria Football Federation and "poor results on the pitch" have left Nigerian football in "a mess" (BBC, 7/15).
Do you have an executive announcement? If so, please send to global@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
