DAVID LABRUNE was appointed head of int'l rights for the French Professional Football League (LFP). Labrune joins the LFP from French pay-TV broadcaster Canal+, where he was senior sports acquisitions & sales manager for four years. The Frenchman's appointment comes after former LFP Head of Int'l Development Gaël Caselli left the league "at the end of last year" to take up a position at AEG (SOCCEREX, 1/16). ... Octagon hired LIZA DURGE to lead client services for Octagon UK. She will immediately become part of Octagon's senior management team. Durge previously led several global accounts at Digitas LBi (Octagon). ... Former Socceroos defender CRAIG MOORE quit as A-League side Brisbane Roar's football director. In a "shock move," Moore handed in his resignation on Tuesday and departed the club "with immediate effect." Moore had served in the role since June '15 (AAP, 1/16). ... League One side Blackpool appointed SAM OYSTON, the son of Chair KARL, as the club's new CEO. Blackpool was put up for sale in November after the Oyston family lost a High Court battle with former President VALERI BELOKON and was ordered to buy him out for £31M. Interim club secretary STEVE EDWARDS will be responsible for football administration matters (BBC, 1/16).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Liga MX side Atlas announced JOSÉ GUADALUPE CRUZ is no longer its coach. The club announced the news in a statement in which it thanked Cruz, who will be replaced by GERARDO ESPINOZA on an interim basis (LA AFICIÓN, 1/15). ... League Two side Barnet named former Newport County Manager GRAHAM WESTLEY as its new head coach (BBC, 1/15).