McParland to head up Academy review

[Maldini]

MCPARLAND TO HEAD UP ACADEMY REVIEW

Paul Eaton 27 March 2009 Liverpool FC have appointed Frank McParland to undertake a strategic review of the club's Academy operation, which is based at Kirkby. McParland was Liverpool Chief Scout for three years between 2004-07, before taking up the position of General Manager at Bolton Wanderers.

 

Manager Rafa Benitez explained: "When I signed my new contract, it was agreed I'd have a more significant influence at the Academy and this is an important step in assessing the future direction we will need to take.

 

"I value Frank's opinions and know him well from the time he spent working with me at Melwood. He will liaise closely with the staff at the Academy to produce a comprehensive analysis of the operation there before reporting back to me with his recommendations.

 

"Clearly, we need to move forward quickly, so Frank has already started work and will accompany the Under 18 team tomorrow when they travel to Huddersfield Town."

[owenthomas]

wonder what 'General Manager' entailed at Bolton Wanderers? for him to come back and undertake what is a pretty big task Rafa must think highly of him - begs the question why he went..

Edited March 30, 2009 by owenthomas

[Benitez]

wonder what 'General Manager' entailed at Bolton Wanderers? for him to come back and undertake what is a pretty big task Rafa must think highly of him - begs the question why he went..

 

Did he go there when Sammy Lee was made manager? I guess maybe it was a big step up for him and working with someone he knew? Good that he and Sammy are back 'ere now though!

[owenthomas]

yes luv, sure he did.. also, that 'step up' depends on what 'General Manager' meant..

 

i'm thinking aloud because Rafa seemingly pushed for control of the Academy - all reports state he's unhappy with it and he wants to oversee it.. therefore, getting someone in like Frank means he must trust him a lot because there's going to be a lot of eyes on this due to fact Rafa pushed hard for it.. if he trusts him so much to bring him back into the fold then i wonder (aloud again) why he went in the first place..

[Benitez]

prolly cos he thought that a job like general manager of a team would be more 'up there' than being a chief scout. Who knows what it all meant, but I would think being the general manager meant he was supposed to have a lot of control at the club, and managed a lot of staff. Of course, it didn't work out. But I can see why he'd do it.

 

Rafa bringing him back suggests that Frank McParland left on very good terms anyway, and that as you say he must rate him very highly to bring him back.

[GWistooshort]

From today's Echo.......

 

Former Reds chief scout Frank McParland is set to be named as Liverpool’s new academy director.

 

At the start of March McParland was tasked with conducting a review into the under-performing academy and his findings and recommendations have now been passed on to Benitez and club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

 

Benitez is looking to make urgent improvements to Liverpool’s youth set up and his first major move will be to give McParland a newly created position which will involve overseeing all coaching and recruitment at the academy.

 

Benitez has spoken on several occasions of the need for the academy to produce more players of first team quality and McParland’s appointment as director will be the first of a series of changes the Reds boss is hoping to implement soon.

 

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...252-23463791/2/

[GWistooshort]

No surprise.............

 

RAFA BENITEZ WIELDS AXE

Youth team boss Piet Hamberg told to leave Liverpool

By CHRIS BASCOMBE, 02/05/2009

 

RAFA BENITEZ has told Liverpool's academy director Piet Hamberg to quit before this month's FA Youth Cup final.

The Kop boss is launching a ruthless cull of the lower ranks at Anfield and has already warned Hamberg he has no future at the club.

 

Hamberg, who replaced Steve Heighway in 2007, is now negotiating a pay-off and could be gone by the end of this week.

 

Benitez has lined up former Liverpool chief scout and ex-Bolton general manager Frank McParland as Hamberg's replacement.

 

It has been a turbulent time at Liverpool's academy despite the kids reaching the FA Youth Cup final for the third time in four seasons.

 

Benitez demanded full control of youth affairs under the terms of his new contract. And the Spaniard will oversee wholesale changes this summer.

 

Dutchman Hamberg gained his football knowledge in a playing career that included a spell at Ajax in the 1980s. Liverpool play Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup final over two legs on May 22 and 25.

 

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/2873...d-to-leave.html

[carrafan]

Haha i like the headline 'Hamberg told to leave Liverpool'

 

Its good to see that Rafa's getting his men early, so that everything that needs to be managed for next season can be done so.

 

Can see why he was pressing so hard to get complete control over the academy and reserves now, he probably had his targets sorted waay back but the likes of Parry didnt thought better and got their own men in.

 

By now, Rafa's got his coaching staff new contracts and almost sorted all the other incoming ones. Our club is making progress.

Edited May 3, 2009 by carrafan

[John am Rhein]

Piet Hamberg - would he be one of those 'play football on the ground' advocates?