City appoint Gent to assist Hughes in rebuild
MIDDLESBROUGH’S former head of scouting Stephen Gent has been given a key supporting role in Mark Hughes’s summer overhaul of Bradford City.
Gent has been named as the League Two club’s new head of recruitment.
Hughes was heavily involved in the lengthy process which led the Bantams to Gent and it seems clear he will lead the reshaping of the squad, but Gent will play an important job filling the gaps in his knowledge.
The Bantams are the first club Hughes has managed outside of the Premier League.
His assistant Glynn Hodges worked at League One level with AFC Wimbledon and most recently and briefly Doncaster Rovers.
Gent’s 10 years’ experience with Championship Middlesbrough may therefore not seem ideal, although one of his many roles was as loan manager. He also worked in scouting, coaching and analysis.
“He has great knowledge of all levels of the pyramid, and we were all struck by the insight Stephen has into the character of players, which will be important in ensuring we get the right ones through the door,” said Hughes.
“Stephen has lots of enthusiasm for his job, which is great because you know you will always get 100 per cent.”
Gent stressed: “I have been at Middlesbrough for over 10 years and worked in a lot of different roles, which gives me a varied background and a lot of knowledge and experience.
“It is about sitting down with the manager and coaching staff and outlining what we want in terms of a playing philosophy, which we have to be aligned on.”
The Bantams are preparing for a fourth consecutive season in League Two. Despite lofty ambitions and huge crowds for the division, they have not so much as made the play-offs in that time.
This was supposed to be the season that changed with yet another overhaul overseen by Derek Adams but the Scot was sacked in February, days after a busy January transfer window shut.
Hughes has won only four of 12 games since replacing Adams, losing five, but they have given him plenty of opportunity to assess his squad with 12 senior players in the last week of their contracts. Bradford complete their season at home to Carlisle United on Saturday.