Tottenham tell group of recruitment staff – including transfer guru Ian Broomfield – that they are no longer needed as club move towards data-driven approach to signing players
- Broomfield has a long history with Spurs, having joined as a scout under Harry Redknapp
- He and at least three other scouts are leaving the club for a change of course
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Tottenham transfer guru Ian Broomfield is the biggest casualty in the recruitment staff as the club moves towards a data-driven talent spotting system.
Mail Sport understands that Broomfield, who is widely recognized as one of the best player scouts in domestic football, has been told his services are no longer required at Tottenham.
The 73-year-old has a long history with Spurs. He joined the club in 2009 as chief scout under then manager Harry Redknapp and held various senior recruitment roles at the north London club for two spells over a fifteen-year period. His most recent title was head of scouting.
But Broomfield and at least three other scouts are leaving the club amid a change of direction from Tottenham on how they will target new signings.
Johan Lange was appointed technical director of the club in October from Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
Tottenham have told some of their recruitment staff that they are no longer needed
Johan Lange (photo), who was appointed technical director in October, is known for his data-driven approach
Tottenham are now ready to modernize their recruitment approach, which will see several staff members leave
Danish manager Lange is known as a proponent of a data-driven approach to identifying future targets.
And it is believed the club are modernizing their recruitment approach, which will see Broomfield and a number of his colleagues leave.
Intriguingly, there were clues recently at the club’s headquarters in Enfield about their move to a new recruitment approach.
It can be revealed that Michael Edwards, ahead of his appointment as CEO of football for Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group, was at the club’s training facility last month.
Edwards is non-executive director of Ludonautics, a ‘sports consultancy dedicated to helping sports organizations improve their decision-making capabilities through insightful statistical analysis’, a company co-founded with Ian Graham, Liverpool’s former research director.
Meanwhile, it can be revealed that Liverpool’s Michael Edwards (left) was at Tottenham’s training ground last month
Ludonautics is in the process of approaching a number of European clubs about implementing their data systems, although there is no confirmation that Edwards’ visit was related.
A statement from Tottenham said: ‘The review of our football operations continues and includes the restructuring of a number of departments.’