Director of Football

[Xamand]

Seen a lot of talk about the players we could get or our managerial possibilities (as the current incumbent simply cannot be allowed to stay) but very little mention anywhere of a Director of Football.

The current belief is that we are now (and I am still trying to get my head around this) going to be embarking on a journey to becoming probably the foremost club in world football and I don't think that that can be done with a single person in the shape of a manager controlling all aspects of the club: tactics, selection, training, recruitment, training facilities, youth academy etc.

Unfortunately I cannot suggest any names, but it needs to be somebody that is well respected in world football and who is thoroughly grounded in the workings of modern football and what a club needs both on and just as importantly off the pitch (no more bloody paddling pools!).

Any ideas?

[Jammy89]

Ralf Rangnik is the current fave for the role.

He is the one who launched RB Leipzig.

He is currently Sporting Director at Locomotive Moscow.

I'd be happy with him to start with

[Alberts__Lob]

Aye Rangnick would be my first choice for the role. Good interview with him here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uNMyaB0DPI

[Alberts__Lob]

Noticed we're also being linked with Phil Giles at Brentford. He was born in Newcastle and is a former season ticket holder:

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/10/1...ed-phil-giles/

[Zippity]

Yep-it's a hugely important decision-but one I expect these people to get right.

Everything I have heard from them has been incredibly impressive...and I don't just mean in terms of their plans and ambitions for us but in the way they conduct themselves and in the calm but steely-eyed way they know exactly what they want and how to get it.

[Xamand]

Rangnick looks like a good shout

[ex_pat_magpie]

Yep-it's a hugely important decision-but one I expect these people to get right.

Everything I have heard from them has been incredibly impressive...and I don't just mean in terms of their plans and ambitions for us but in the way they conduct themselves and in the calm but steely-eyed way they know exactly what they want and how to get it.

Well they are real successful business people used to dealing in billions unlike our former owner, a jumped-up self-opinionated barrow boy.

[Alberts__Lob]

Well whoever we get in will be an improvement on Lee Charnley (with his £675,000 per year wage). I think SpongeBob SquarePants would do a better job than him. Obviously the Director of Football will actually be backed by the new owners and have money to spend which is a big difference

[Scott Kirkland]

Can tell the difference already, These guys want to surround themselves with football people. Ashley only wanted yes men around him.

[Alberts__Lob]

Can tell the difference already, These guys want to surround themselves with football people. Ashley only wanted yes men around him.

So true.

To me it's logical to get the sporting director in first and then discuss the new manger with him.....rather than appoint the manager first and then the sporting director after. Their relationship is going to be very important for the future success of the club so hopefully this is the way they'll go about things

Rangnick and Favre would certainly have a lot of experience between them if it is them the new owners appoint