McGHEE SHOWS THE EURO MODEL WORKS

MARK McGhee scored 174 goals in 493 senior appearances for clubs and country. He played for some exceptional clubs, including Celtic, Hamburg, Newcastle and Aberdeen.

He has won 37.2 per cent of the 963 games that he has managed, at top clubs including Aberdeen, Brighton, Leicester, Wolves and Reading.

It is a true pleasure to work alongside Mark’s network, influence and personality in North London.

He has reached a point in his career at which he wants to focus upon building up the profile of a football club, affecting its operating structure at all levels, particularly to create a stable and coherent culture throughout footballing operations, and ensuring that investment/budgeting meets the essential needs at all levels in order to maximise performance.

His desire is to be a strategic influence and he is very good at gelling people together, involving people, building unity and developing club strength.

Having grown up as one of Sir Alex’s boys at Aberdeen, Mark has had the most exceptional footballing education from the ultimate master of the art.

The learning opportunities around Mark are exceptional, although he never forces himself or his opinion on anybody. He just shares ideas and sustains an environment of trust and togetherness.

Barnet may have struggled this season but you wouldn’t know. Because winning people don’t dwell on situations, they just take positive action to make things better and that is the way that Mark McGhee is. A very strong character. And a top, top guy.

The concept of a director of football was once frowned upon. The ‘European model’ was ill-regarded in England. But I’ve experienced Peter Ridsdale at Preston, Barry Fry at Peterborough and now Mark.

I’m an experienced manager (900th game this week) but I thoroughly enjoyed/enjoy working in a team with each of those men. They all helped share the load.