HAROLD MITCHELL resigned as chair of Free TV in the wake of the Australian federal court case issued against him by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission. Free TV Australia represents all of Australia's free-to-air commercial broadcasters. The "heavy hitting adman and philanthropist" called ASIC's accusations "false" and said that he intends to "vigorously defend the case." ASIC alleged that, as VP of Tennis Australia, Mitchell, along with then-President STEPHEN HEALY, "breached the Corporations Act" in the course of awarding the domestic TV broadcast rights for the Australian Open to the Seven Network in '13 (ABC NEWS, 11/20). ... IMG-Perform joint venture FC Diez Media hired FELIPE AQUILINO as head of media. He will be responsible for the sale of int'l media rights to the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana. Aquilino's most recent role was with Turner (MAQUINA DO ESPORTE, 11/22). ... LAURENT MEKIES will be Ferrari Formula 1's sporting director next season, Team Principal MAURIZIO ARRIVABENE said on Friday. The last person to "carry out the role" was MASSIMO RIVOLA, who left in '16. Mekies was previously deputy race director and head of safety for FIA (REUTERS, 11/23).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Championship Rugby club Leigh Centurions appointed former Featherstone Rovers Manager JOHN DUFFY as head coach. Duffy had spent 16 months in charge of Featherstone (BBC, 11/22). ... MICK MCCARTHY was appointed as manager of the Republic of Ireland football team on a two-year contract, the FA of Ireland announced, with TERRY CONNOR and ROBBIE KEANE as assistants (London GUARDIAN, 11/25). ... League Two side Notts County named NEAL ARDLEY its manager. His appointment follows the dismissal of HARRY KEWELL on Nov. 13. Ardley, 46, managed AFC Wimbledon for six years and led it to promotion to League One for the first time in '16 (BBC, 11/23).
