CHINESE champion Guang-zhou Evergrande Taobao have named Li Yimeng as new president in place of outgoing Liu Yongzhuo, seeking to strengthen the club’s management and raise revenue, the club announced yesterday.

    The decision was delivered inside the club yesterday through an official statement signed by the club’s owner Xu Jiayin, one of China’s top property tycoons.

    In appointing new president, Evergrande aims to “reinforcing the club’s management, strengthening the administration of players trade — for both domestic and foreign players, improving the club’s marketing ability, increasing the club’s revenue comprehensively and striving to make profit in 2016,” according to the statement.

    It’s not known yet where Liu will be placed after his exit. It’s speculated that Guangzhou Evergrande’s lackluster performance in the Asian Champions League resulted in Liu’s removal, who was appointed to the role in February after former president Ke Peng and two other executives of China’s most successful club had resigned.

    (Xinhua)