Arsenal has just announced that they will make 55 members of their staff redundant, it was first thought that their key scouts were among the 55 that have been sacked.
However, Goal.com has revealed that the 55 staff are different from the scouting network led by Francis Cagigao that is being disassembled by the club and is part of a different restructuring plan.
It claims that Edu is the individual overseeing the disbandment of the club’s scouting network that will see them lose the likes of Cagigao, Brian McDermott and Peter Clark who have all been told that they are no longer required.
The report claims that the scouts are contractors at the club and that their job loss is separate from those announced and that theirs is the result of a review of the scouting department done by Edu.
It claims that the Brazilian, who formerly played for the Gunners, is looking to stamp his authority on the club’s recruitment system and has decided to let the scouts go in preparation for a new system of operation.
Arsenal has gradually moved from scout-based recruitment system to agent-advised recruitment systems and it remains unclear if they will ever be able to unearth players like Gabriel Martinelli again.
So who will discover the wonderful 17 year old playing for Exeter on a cold rainy November evening against Plymouth.,Kia Joorabchian? A lot of young talent will slip through the Arsenal net if we opt for an agent led recruitment policy.Furthermore,these money driven agents have a vested interest to try to direct their clients to Arsenal whether they are right for the Club or not.I am all for scaling down in a time of need but to operate without experienced scouts is short sighted in my opinion.
I hate people losing their jobs but I also understand evolution in business. I wish them the best
Arsenal is a business, we are in economic turmoil, staff are getting laid off everywhere, football has no crowds and money is really tight. Redundancy is happening everywhere by everyone, its about survival or die. Its sad fot the 55, it happened to me by my firm, its life. Arsenal are doing what any business would do, trying to make sure it survives and there will be casualties and there may be more.