Facebook hired Eurosport CEO PETER HUTTON to "head up the social network’s efforts to broker worldwide deals for live-streaming sports." At Facebook, Hutton will focus on "securing global sports rights" and be based in Silicon Valley, according to sources. He will report to Facebook Head of Global Sports Partnerships DAN REED, who was previously with the NBA (VARIETY, 1/21). ... Welsh Premier League side Bangor City announced Chair GORDON CRAIG and secretary NICK WOOD "resigned from their positions with immediate effect" (BBC, 1/18).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Guinea sacked national football team coach LAPPÉ BANGOURA following the side's failure to qualify for the quarterfinals of the African Nations Championship in Morocco (BBC, 1/19). ... Ligue 1 side Girondins de Bordeaux named GUSTAVO POYET head coach. Poyet succeeds JOCELYN GOURVENNEC, who was dismissed last Thursday (Bordeaux). ... Bundesliga side Hamburg sacked Manager MARKUS GISDOL following the club's 2-0 defeat at home to Cologne. Hamburg said that its board of directors and Sporting Dir JENS TODT "came to the decision to let Gisdol go," along with assistant coaches FRANK FROEHLING and FRANK KASPARI (AP, 1/21). ... EPL side Watford sacked Manager MARCO SILVA, blaming Everton's approach for the Portuguese in November as the "catalyst for this decision." The club has won one of its last 11 Premier League games and is 10th in the table. Spaniard JAVI GRACIA was announced as Silva's replacement on Sunday (BBC, 1/21).
