Director Of Football.

As reported on Vital Forest last week the Reds are keen to appoint a Director of Football. David Pleat is favourite for the job, but the club says it will neither confirm or deny he is there man.

It is thought that the club may use a different term for the roll, as he is expected to be in charge of scouting and talent spotting. The club has recently overhauled their scouting system, doing away with the head scout in Scandinavia. Mark Arthur told the NEP ‘We are not looking for a DOF. The roll would largely be in terms of football recruitment at a high level.’ He went on to say that they wanted someone with connections with the Premiership. ‘We want somebody who really knows that level of the game and the people involved, who can pick up the phone straight away and talk to people.’

Apparently this is seen by the club as an advisory roll and not a full time appointment. Pleat is reported as having helped the club out in various ways in recent years, most notably the appointment of Calderwood.