Scottish Championship side Dundee United stepped into '19 by appointing TONY ASGHAR as its sporting director. The former football agent "has been lined up for the role" by new American Owner MARK OGREN. Asghar has already started "working closely" with head coach ROBBIE NEILSON on January transfer targets (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 1/1). ... Formula 1 Dir of Communications NORMAN HOWELL "suddenly stepped down" and left the motor racing body after nearly two years in the role. Howell was promoted into F1's communication "hot seat" in Feb. '17 after spending nearly two years as its head of digital. He reportedly directly to F1 Managing Dir, Commercial Operations SEAN BRATCHES. F1 confirmed Howell's departure and said that the communications team "is being restructured." Instead of a director of communications, there will be a head of corporate and consumer communications and a head of motorsport press office. Both roles will report to F1 Dir of Marketing & Communications ELLIE NORMAN (PR WEEK, 1/2). ... Sports betting and gaming technology supplier SBTech appointed former Scientific Games CEO GAVIN ISAACS as its new non-exec chair. He will use his 20 years of gaming experience to grow the company's U.S. presence (SBTech). ... STEVE BRUCE was named the new manager of League Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. Bruce will take charge from Feb. 1, with assistants STEVE AGNEW and STEPHEN CLEMENCE taking control until then. Dutchman JOS LUHUKAY was dismissed by the club on Dec. 21 after less than a year in charge. Bruce, 58, previously managed Sheffield United as well as Huddersfield Town and Hull City (BBC, 1/2).
