DAVE PARNABY, who is retiring at the end of the season after 20 years as Middlesbrough’s academy director, says youth football has become too ‘formalised’ and lost the art of play.
DAVE PARNABY, who is retiring at the end of the season after 20 years as Middlesbrough’s academy director, says youth football has become too ‘formalised’ and lost the art of play.
On the face of it, New Zealand Technical Director is a thankless job: the country is rugby obsessed, its top players play thousands of miles away, and only half a World Cup place is available every four years. Andreas Heraf describes it as a “great gift” though.
SPORTING DIRECTOR Stuart Webber has immediately made his presence felt at Norwich City by sacking technical director Ricky Martin and recruitment chiefs Lee Darnbrough and Tony Spearing.
HUDDERSFIELD will not consider former England boss Steve McClaren for their vacant Head of Football Operations role, TGG understands.
McClaren had been linked with the job following Stuart Webber’s exit last week. The 33-year-old ended weeks of speculation by joining Norwich City as their Sporting Director, having been put on gardening leave by the Terriers the week before.
McClaren has been out of work since being sacked by Derby County for the second time in less than two years last month.
Speculation has been rife that the former England boss could be in line to replace Webber after he was spotted in the stands during Huddersfield’s Championship win over Norwich last week.
However, the Terriers are looking for a specialist rather than someone with a coaching and managerial background.
Webber made his name as director of academy recruitment at Liverpool before moving on to QPR, Wolves and finally Huddersfield. He was a major success at the John Smith's, playing a key role in bringing former USA international David Wagner in as manager as well as overseeing a series of astute signings.
Together, Webber and Wagner transformed Huddersfield's fortunes, turning them from Championship strugglers to promotion contenders.
The 33-year-old is now setting about finding a replacement for boss Alex Neil at Carrow Road.
Chairman Mel Morris was scathing in his assessment of McClaren when announcing the former England manager's dismissal last month. He claimed “the heartbeat, commitment, focus and passion has been lacking something fundamental” under the boss.
FOOTBALL LEAGUE teams will be required to name at least one 'club developed' in their matchday squads next season.
STUART WEBBER has been confirmed as the new Sporting Director of Norwich City.
LIVERPOOL have been banned from signing academy players from other clubs for at least a year after being found to have tapped up a 12-year-old Stoke City player and offered both him and his family inducements.
STUART WEBBER is expected to be officially named as Norwich’s new sporting director following tonight’s game at Huddersfield.
WE’VE long known about the star player. Then there was the star manager. Now we have a new phenomenon - the star sporting director - and none comes bigger than Sevilla’s Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo - or Monchi. Now the 48-year-old says he has offers to come to the Premier League this summer.
MANCHESTER UNITED have signed up to make their debut at the Youdan Trophy – the youth tournament set up by former ref Keith Hackett, who promises it will become “the most prestigious of its kind in Europe”.
EVERTON director of football Steve Walsh has given an insight into the scouting overhaul he believes will deliver a top-four place for the Toffees.
THE way top clubs scout players has been revolutionised thanks to companies like Scout7. We took a look at how the online system works.