Hockey Ireland named ADAM GRAINGER director of performance. He will work with men's national coach CRAIG FULTON and women's coach GRAHAM SHAW. Both teams will compete in their respective World Cups next year and Grainger will take up the role at the end of January (IRISH TIMES, 12/21). ... Topps on Wednesday combined its North American and int'l sports & entertainment divisions into one global division. With the move, Topps promoted VP & GM of North American Sports & Entertainment DAVID LEINER to global GM. Meanwhile, Topps Europe VP & Group Managing Dir CHRIS RODMAN, who led the division for more than 20 years, will stay with the company as a consultant (Topps).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Ligue 2 side Auxerre named PABLO CORREA head coach. The Uruguayan signed a contract through '19. He succeeds FRANCIS GILLOT (Auxerre). ... Ligue 1 side St. Etienne named JEAN-LOUIS GASSET its head coach. He had served as assistant coach behind JULIEN SABLÉ before the club went on a six-match winless streak (St. Etienne). ... La Liga club Las Palmas reappointed former Rayo Vallecano coach PACO JÉMEZ as its manager. Jémez, who coached Las Palmas from '10-11, is "best known in Spain for his stint at Rayo," which he "kept in the top flight on a shoestring budget for three consecutive years" before being relegated in May '16 (REUTERS, 12/21). ... Eredivisie side Ajax sacked coach MARCEL KEIZER and his assistants DENNIS BERGKAMP and HENNIE SPIJKERMAN on Thursday, a day after the club was "bundled out of the Dutch Cup." Keizer, 48, was promoted from the Ajax reserve side, which competes in the Dutch second division, to take over from PETER BOSZ when he left to join Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund "in the close season" (REUTERS, 12/21). ... LEON BRITTON will take temporary control of Premier League side Swansea City's first team affairs after he was given the caretaker manager role. Swansea sacked PAUL CLEMENT on Wednesday "with the club rooted to the bottom of the table" (London TELEGRAPH, 12/21).
