IT’S BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ...
Pompey are facing having to reset their head of football operations hunt.
The News understands the two key men pinpointed for the role have now rejected the opportunity to move to Fratton Park.
That’s after Cambridge United’s Ben Strang followed Forest Green’s Richard Hughes in turning down the opportunity to assume the key position.
It means Pompey now have to go back to the drawing board after highlighting their two key candidates, following two months of interviewing and undertaking due diligence on those in the frame.
The process is being overseen by chief executive Andy Cullen, who will now take counsel from Danny Cowley and other key players at the club over the way forward.
Cullen has an extensive network of contacts throughout football he will once again call upon to identify the next in line for the position.
Another man who was being considered was Oxford United’s Mark Thomas.
A move for the U’s head of recruitment and performance analysis never accelerated, however, with Thomas happy in his role at the Kassam Stadium.
He is a man familiar with Pompey after spending four years at the club as an analyst, before going up the A34 to join Michael Appleton in 2014.
Thomas’ standing in the game has grown in his near eight years at Oxford, where the club have a long record of bringing in players and then moving them on in multi-million pound deals.
Kemar Roofe, Marvin Johnson, Shandon Baptiste, Rob Dickie, Gavin Whyte and Rob Atkinson are just some of those who fall into that category. Thomas now potentially has the opportunity to work with an increased kitty next season, with Indonesian investors looking to up their stake in his club.
It’s now three months since Roberto Gagliardi’s departure was confirmed, as he took up a role with Southampton’s owners Sports Republic.
Cowley has made it clear he sees the head of football operations role as a key one in overseeing strategy and development when it comes to recruitment, performance, sports science, coaching, analysis and the club’s academy.