Football Federation Australia expects GRAHAM ARNOLD to "remain at the helm" of the Socceroos and the Olyroos ahead of Olympic and World Cup qualifying campaigns, despite reported links with a job in the Scottish Premiership. ESPN reported that Arnold was "interested" in succeeding NEIL LENNON at Hibernian, but sources close to Arnold "insist they have heard no mention of him exiting the national teams" (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 1/28). ... Sprinter ZOE HOBBS is the fastest Kiwi woman to run on New Zealand soil after breaking a "record that stood for 25 years." Hobbs broke MICHELLE SEYMOUR's New Zealand resident 100m record, of 11.52, set in '94. Hobbs "shaved a tenth of a second off the record," with a time of 11.42 (STUFF, 1/28). ... Serie A side Bologna is "increasingly likely" to fire Manager PIPPO INZAGHI on Monday and bring in SINISA MIHAJLOVIC after "disastrous results." Sky Sport Italia, Sportitalia, La Gazzetta dello Sport and other outlets "claim negotiations are already in full swing" with Mihajlovic. There "should be" a meeting on Monday to finalize the details and announce the change of management (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 1/27). ... EPL side Cardiff City Manager NEIL WARNOCK admitted that "walking away from management has crossed his mind" every day since it emerged that EMILIANO SALA was on board a plane that disappeared near the Channel Islands last Monday. Warnock described the last seven days as "the most difficult week in my career by an absolute mile" (London GUARDIAN, 1/28). ... Chinese Olympic swimmer SUN YANG “has not broken anti-doping rules,” the Chinese swimming association said on Monday, rejecting allegations published by the London Times. China Swimming Association said that an investigation by FINA found the swimmer “committed no anti-doping rule violation” (REUTERS, 1/28). ... La Liga side Espanyol signed Chinese striker WU LEI from Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG. Wu, the CSL’s top scorer with 27 goals this season, arrived in Barcelona with a shoulder injury sustained at the Asian Cup, “which could keep him out for three months” (REUTERS, 1/28).
