Infinite Esports & Entertainment President CHRIS CHANEY is out of a job and 19 employees have been "laid off," new President RYAN MUSSELMAN confirmed. Infinite, the holding company created by Chaney and MLB Texas Rangers co-Owner and COO NEIL LEIBMAN after Leibman acquired OpTic Gaming in '17, had about 70 employees before the changes (THE ESPORTS OBSERVER, 10/10). ... Former Everton Manager JOE ROYLE and his son DARREN will join League Championship side Wigan Athletic's board once the club's takeover is completed. The news was confirmed in documents to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange relating to the £22M ($29M) sale of the club. There is no mention of current Chair DAVID SHARPE or former Man City CEO GARRY COOK, who "helped broker the deal" (BBC, 10/10). ... Green Sports Alliance Operations & Program Coordinator NATALIE NISHITANI is leaving the company after four years. Her last day is Monday (THE DAILY).
COACHES/MANAGERS: GIAN PIERO VENTURA, the coach of Italy's national football team when it "astonishingly failed to qualify for the World Cup" last year, was appointed to manage Serie A side Chievo. He replaces LORENZO D'ANNA, who was fired on Tuesday (REUTERS, 10/10). ... K League side FC Seoul rehired former Manager CHOI YONG-SOO. Seoul said that Choi will lead the club until '21 (YONHAP, 10/11). ... Nippon Professional Baseball league side Hanshin Tigers Manager TOMOAKI KANEMOTO left his role "to take responsibility for the team's poor results," and team Owner SHINYA SAKAI "quickly followed suit." The club hoped to sign the coach to a multi-year extension and was "taken back" when Kanemoto walked away (KYODO, 10/11). ... DEAN SMITH was appointed League Championship side Aston Villa's head coach, with JOHN TERRY brought in to work alongside the former Brentford manager as his assistant as part of a "new-look management team" that the owners hope will "breathe fresh life into the club." On a day of "significant change" at Villa Park, it was also announced that JESÚS GARCÍA PITARCH, who previously worked for Valencia and Atlético Madrid, was appointed as sporting director (London GUARDIAN, 10/10).
