ROTHERHAM UNITED stalwart Rob Scott has been confirmed as the club’s new director of football.
Scott, a former Millers player from 1998 to 2005, will have a broad range of responsibilities throughout the football side of the business, having previously been head of recruitment. He will continue to lead the club’s recruitment ‘arm’.
A club statement read: “Extensive discussions have taken place at board level since the club parted ways with former manager Matt Taylor, and it was unanimously determined that a new model on the football side was required to ensure the club’s continuing success.
“The board unanimously agreed that Rob, who has not only played an important role off-the-field beyond his recruitment position in recent years, but also has a real understanding of the club dating back to his success as a player, should be formally given responsibilities that will ensure the continued protection of the club’s ‘DNA’ and provide a clear link between the football and non-football staff across all departments of the club.
“The success that the football club has enjoyed over the last ten years in its current guise has been unprecedented, and we are incredibly proud to be able to reflect on the fantastic memories that it has given us, but now that we look to the future, it has been agreed by all parties that this new model will give us the best possible opportunity to ensure that people in roles across the club are able to maximise their potential in their own areas of expertise moving forward.
“Rob’s promotion will have no influence on his prior role at the football club, and he will continue to manage player recruiting with the help of his scouting network.
“The appointment of a director of football will not detract from our head coach Leam Richardson’s continued strong influence on any players recruited, tactics used, or team selections; rather, it will ensure continuity in the ‘type’ of player and person recruited by the football club moving forward.
Scott, 50, joined the club in August 2019 following a spell in senior recruitment at Premier League side Watford
After ending his playing career, Scott had spells as joint-manager at Ilkeston, Boston United and then Grimsby Town, where he worked alongside Millers legend Paul Hurst.
Scott’s promotion will enable Leam Richardson to purely focus on first-team matters.
Speaking last week, when questioned about potential structural changes at the club, Richardson said: “My job, fundamentally, when I came in was to make sure the players had direction, the staff had direction and the club had direction on the pitch.
“That’s been my main focus.
“I’ll stick to that, and hopefully the club can progress in a great way. I will surely support that.”Rotherham United, who are eight points adrift at the bottom of the Championship, travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday.
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