The Scottish FA will appoint the first female to its board as it bids to "take advantage of advances in new technology." The appointment of ANA STEWART, 47, will be announced this week -- and she "will immediately become one of the most powerful players on the Scottish football scene." Stewart is a "pioneer in innovation technologies" and a former Scottish Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 9/25). ... The Int'l Centre for Sport Security hired TY FRANCIS to be its chief global business development officer. He will work principally with ICSS Enterprise to drive commercial activities. Francis joins ICSS from the Ethisphere Institute (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 9/25). Indonesian FA (PSSI) Deputy Chair JOKO DRIYONO was appointed VP of the ASEAN Football Federation on Saturday. The nomination was settled at the AFF's extraordinary meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, after Vietnam FA VP TRAN QUOC TUAN "gave up the position" to become the federation's exec committee member (JAKARTA GLOBE, 9/25).
COACHES/MANAGERS: League One side Oldham Athletic Manager JOHN SHERIDAN left the club by mutual consent. The 52-year-old took over for a third time in January, but "won only 10 of his 33 games in charge." First-team coach RICHIE WELLENS was "put in temporary charge" following Sheridan's departure (BBC, 9/25). ... Scottish Premiership side Ross County sacked Manager JIM MCINTYRE and his assistant, BILLY DODDS, with the club sitting 10th in the league. Academy Dir STEVEN FERGUSON "takes over in a caretaker role" (BBC, 9/25). ... La Liga side Villarreal promoted JAVI CALLEJA to head coach following the sacking of FRAN ESCRIBÁ on Monday. A former Villarreal player, Calleja had been in charge of the club's reserve side this season (ESPN.com, 9/25). ... Italian FERDINANDO DE GIORGI has been fired as coach of Poland's national volleyball squad after it "crashed out" of the 2017 Men's European Volleyball Championships last month (IAR, 9/21). ... La Liga side Alavés appointed GIANNI DE BIASI as its new head coach. The 61-year-old Italian replaces LUIS ZUBELDÍA. De Biasi was in charge of Albania's national team for six years before "stepping down this summer" (PA, 9/23). ... Indian Super League side Pune City on Monday hired RANKO POPOVIĆ as its new head coach. Popović most recently coached at Thai club Buriram United (PTI, 9/25). ... Pakistan Cricket Board Chair NAJAM SETHI confirmed that Kiwi coach MARK COLES was appointed to coach the Pakistan women's cricket team ahead of its series against New Zealand next month. Coles, who was appointed at the suggestion of Pakistan men's head coach MICKEY ARTHUR, has "held several coaching jobs in New Zealand's Northern Districts region" (DAWN, 9/25). ... Ligue 2 side Valenciennes fired Manager FARUK HADŽIBEGIĆ. The club currently sits 14th in the league and has lost three of its last four matches. Hadžibegić had been under contract with Valenciennes through June ’18 (L’ÉQUIPE, 9/25). ... Argentine Superliga side Defensa y Justicia coach NELSON VIVAS stepped down from his position after the team's 3-1 loss to Colón. Vivas led the club to one win, one draw and two losses "during his short stint as coach" (CLARÍN, 9/24).
