Franchise Notes: Sunderland Sacks Didier Ndong For Contract Breach

League One side Sunderland sacked midfielder Didier Ndong "just minutes after he decided to return to training on Monday." The Gabon int'l arrived at the club's Academy of Light training ground on Monday for the first time since May, "having failed to find a new club over the summer." He was subsequently informed that he had been sacked for "breach of contract" (London TELEGRAPH, 9/24).

National Rugby League side Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett vowed to complete his contract next year after being told the '19 NRL season "will be his last at the Broncos helm." Brisbane ended "months of speculation" when its board confirmed it "knocked back Bennett's request" for a '20 extension and that next year "would draw the curtain on the coach's glittering Broncos career." There was speculation Bennett "may walk away if his request to coach one more year was denied" (AAP, 9/26).