Current Staff Scott Mitchell - Head of Recruitment

[Chippy]

Surely Ed wouldn’t step back into a head of recruitment role by choice?

Maybe he could step back into the role he had before that tho?

Also don’t forget there was no pulling of the purse strings during the last summer window. That’s what was absolutely said at fans forum!

Things quite depressing at the moment, need some serious good news in the days and weeks and months ahead to lift the spirits.

 

[greatunclekip]

Looks like it’s going to be recruiting the 18-21s.

 

[uptheus]

Surely Ed wouldn’t step back into a head of recruitment role by choice?

There’s been another guy who’s been sitting with Ed for quite a few weeks now who I presumed was Scott Mitchell, but only realised the other week that it wasn’t him, so I wonder if he’s the next Head of Recruitment to work under Ed?

 

[Bornyellow]

There’s been another guy who’s been sitting with Ed for quite a few weeks now who I presumed was Scott Mitchell, but only realised the other week that it wasn’t him, so I wonder if he’s the next Head of Recruitment to work under Ed?

Well you would assume that this move hasn’t happened suddenly, Scott Mitchell would surely have to work a notice period unless we waved this with his replacement lined up.

 

[CaptainOx]

There’s been another guy who’s been sitting with Ed for quite a few weeks now who I presumed was Scott Mitchell, but only realised the other week that it wasn’t him, so I wonder if he’s the next Head of Recruitment to work under Ed?

Nick Meace (Head of Performance) is often sat with Ed at home games. Could be him?

 

[uptheus]

Nick Meace (Head of Performance) is often sat with Ed at home games. Could be him?

Yes, that’s him.

 

[Osei Yaw]

Of course there is massive incompetence above them.. that’s not the point I made in my post. I’ve made that pretty clear on other threads.

I’ve not been fan of the recruitment since we was in the Championship so I’m happy to see him move on.
He also has a very close obvious relationship with Bloomfield. Another person I don’t rate so my hope is that his departure is in line with Bloomfields.

Which of the signings we've made since being in The Championship did you like or dislike?

 

[Paul Cannell]

Does this mean EW might step back into a pure recruitment role, and we might actually be looking for a new 'Head of Football' type recruit instead? Not sure if your post is speculation, ITK, or I've got the wrong end of the stick!

One lives in hope.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Hard to see how scouting kids is a step up. Probably the right move for him

 

[Sarge]

Hard to see how scouting kids is a step up. Probably the right move for him

does that mean Scott Mitchell will need to wear a woggle?

 

[The Voice Of Reason]

Hard to see how scouting kids is a step up. Probably the right move for him

Great hopefully a few hundred thousand compo

 

[Manorlounger]

The cynic in me has this down as another example of the internal squabbles that, apparently, allegedly, have upset numerous members of staff, some of whom have left the club.
Maybe some leave for better roles, pay etc but, some key roles are being vacated without obvious replacements. This is not idle speculation on my part, I have spoken to staff who have clearly indicated that they were not happy.

 

[isibuko]

Hard to see how scouting kids is a step up.

I think it's pretty clearly a step up, no? Although the title is different and might be seen as a 'step down', it's a role within a very different (and much larger) operation than Oxford with probably more scope for learning and development.

 

[Foley]

It's club has been bringing in players for the Academy ( ex PL academy players) I believe.
Would Mitchell have been responsible for this as well as bringing in the likes of Spencer for the first team?

I know some on here who have slated our recruitment will be pleased, but this us a concern on.the face of it as he was clearly highly thought of, and recruitment is one of the key priorities for next season.

 

[Osleroad]

I think it's pretty clearly a step up, no? Although the title is different and might be seen as a 'step down', it's a role within a very different (and much larger) operation than Oxford with probably more scope for learning and development.

Plus a chance to progress career and salary through a Prem set up with £££

 

[carefreeoufc]

It's club has been bringing in players for the Academy ( ex PL academy players) I believe.
Would Mitchell have been responsible for this as well as bringing in the likes of Spencer for the first team?

I know some on here who have slated our recruitment will be pleased, but this us a concern on.the face of it as he was clearly highly thought of, and recruitment is one of the key priorities for next season.

Agreed, but I think part of the issue is that there's very little clue as to who is responsible for recruitment etc. If we look at our time over the last few seasons:

Waldron - Seemingly responsible for our promotion season and into the Championship?
Buckingham/Rowett/Bloomfield - It could be argued that all have had involvement in recruitment. Certainly, it wouldn't be too OTT to suggest Rowett had some involvement with Bradshaw (I know the PR says we'd been tracking him for some time), and Massoko was presumably a Bloomfield appointment.
Mitchell - Presumably responsible for Jan through to now?

Ignoring the summer rug pull, I don't think Mitchell has been too bad, particularly as we've been considered nailed-on relegation fodder for two seasons by everyone outside of Oxford. What I don't understand is how much involvement Waldron has in all of this. Before being promoted to Head of Football Operations (or whatever his title is), he's been responsible for scouting, data analysis, recruitment and his current role. I find it hard to believe he's not been actively involved in recruitment since his promotion. It was he who said he sat down for a coffee with Bloomfield last year.

Anyway, my concern is that we're quite possibly losing a well-connected, well-regarded Head of Recruitment due to internal differences and this strange SMT we have in place. Pure speculation on my part, and it could just be the right opportunity at the right time. I'll be honest, I'd have probably preferred it was Waldron that was off, but I suspect that is unlikely to happen.

 

[Paul Cannell]

I know some on here who have slated our recruitment will be pleased, but this us a concern on.the face of it as he was clearly highly thought of, and recruitment is one of the key priorities for next season.

In my opinion as one none-ITK repeat slater, it seems bloody concerning to me. The January window seemed oddly focused on recruits who had a decent chance of improving the squad and I can only see that being down to 2 possible causes: the envolvement of Mitchell and the confiscation of Erick's mobile.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

I think it's pretty clearly a step up, no? Although the title is different and might be seen as a 'step down', it's a role within a very different (and much larger) operation than Oxford with probably more scope for learning and development.

Is the tea boy in a FTSE 100 company more senior than a team leader in an SME?

 

[Paul Cannell]

Anyway, my concern is that we're quite possibly losing a well-connected, well-regarded Head of Recruitment due to internal differences and this strange SMT we have in place. Pure speculation on my part, and it could just be the right opportunity at the right time. I'll be honest, I'd have probably preferred it was Waldron that was off, but I suspect that is unlikely to happen.

Seems like a very well-grounded concern to me. I suppose it's the outcome of decades of experience but the opacity over what Waldron's role is or was through the course of its evolution seems more like embarrassment than jealously guarding a winning secret formula.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

Agreed, but I think part of the issue is that there's very little clue as to who is responsible for recruitment etc.

People will vaguely cite 'the recruitment team' but there is never a clear answer. That way nobody can be held responsible if the recruitment is poor.

It's similar to how a 'Director of Football' (or similar) can escape the smelly stuff by sacking a manager. You then get a new manager in and guess what? Nothing changes very much because the manager has very little power in that sort of structure.

 

[isibuko]

Is the tea boy in a FTSE 100 company more senior than a team leader in an SME?

No.

 

[Marked Ox]

It's club has been bringing in players for the Academy ( ex PL academy players) I believe.
Would Mitchell have been responsible for this as well as bringing in the likes of Spencer for the first team?

I know some on here who have slated our recruitment will be pleased, but this us a concern on.the face of it as he was clearly highly thought of, and recruitment is one of the key priorities for next season.

Thought the Academy had their own recruitment specialist (for want of a better word) who worked within the Recruitment Team as a whole.

Edit: Head of Academy Recruitment is Jefferson Harriot.

 

[Emilio]

Is the tea boy in a FTSE 100 company more senior than a team leader in an SME?

It is if you want to pursue a career in making hot beverages.

You're also implying that scouting for a youth academy is less important than scouting for a first team.

One could argue that without the former, you don't get the latter, and that the former is even more important to the long-term trajectory of the club. How often do people on here complain about lack of a steady chain of talent coming into the first team via the youth set up, and that we should look to prioritise that ahead of signing players who will only be at the club for a season or so?

I would imagine it could even be more gratifying knowing you have contributed significantly to the development of a young player and in discovering new talent and future stars, rather than just searching for established player for whom there are already tons of metrics present in endless databases.