Following a recent media article suggesting the Club had recruited a first-team player analyst, City's Head of Recruitment Greg Abbott has today (Friday) responded to correct a few inaccuracies for any supporters that may feel misled.
It has been reported that 21 year old graduate Callum Gough has been appointed as a first-team player recruitment analyst responsible for making decisions on who the club sign. This is incorrect and unfair on both Callum and the club itself.
"Sometimes information comes out in the press that perhaps isn't completely accurate,” explains Abbott.
"It has come to my knowledge this week that it has gone out in the local press that we've brought in a 21 year-old who is almost going to take over our recruitment.
"I think I need to explain this in greater detail.
"We have taken on Callum on a part-time basis, probably three days a week, almost as an extended internship. He’s a graduate from Leeds Beckett University and will be returning there in September to start a Masters degree
"He’s a super lad and an unbelievable help to me and the team but to paint the picture that he will have any input into who the club do or do not sign does nobody any favours and really blows things out of all proportion. We’ve had no contact from anyone to comment on Callum’s role otherwise we could have explained it in detail.
"He will come in and support the I.T side of the department and input all the information our scouting network and I produce so that our coaching staff can view it via on our internal systems.
"From this Saturday to next Saturday, I will be watching six games.
"Having Callum available to us and using his expertise to put together a scouting and recruitment database frees me up to get out and about watching matches and making reports.
"He will assist with putting in the match reports, player reports and the individual data we need to get the right players.
"My strengths are getting out there, watching games, producing reports and talking to people. It is no surprise that a 21 year-old is a lot better on computers than a 53 year-old!
"That is the message that probably should have gone out to supporters.
"We just needed the fans to know about this and not be misled.”