Man Utd’s two leading scouts ‘leave club’ in wake of mass transfer criticism | Football | Sport
Manchester United’s two leading scouts, Jim Lawler and Marcel Bout, have departed as part of radical changes to the club’s structure. Lawler, chief scout, and Bout, head of global scouting, have long had a significant say in recruitment that has come heavily under fire in recent years.
According to Andy Mitten, writing for The Athletic, Lawlor and Bout were prominent voices in United’s transfer business for a combined 24 years. And both have now left Old Trafford as the latest changes in the club’s structure since Richard Arnold replaced Ed Woodward as chief executive.
Lawlor was at United since 2005 and worked closely with Sir Alex Ferguson before being promoted to chief scout in 2014. Bout arrived as a coach under Louis van Gaal’s tenure before transitioning into a leading scouting role.
A club statement read: “Jim Lawlor has decided to step down from his role as Chief Scout in the Summer after 16 years with the club.
“During that time, Jim played a key role in the development of multiple trophy-winning Manchester United teams and was an important source of guidance to Sir Alex Ferguson and each of the managers who have followed him.
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“Jim leaves the club with our warmest thanks for his significant contribution and our very best wishes for the future.
“Marcel Bout has departed from his role as Head of Global Scouting after eight years with the club.
“A respected figure within and outside of Manchester United, Marcel has played an important part as an assistant coach and in the strengthening of our scouting capabilities in recent years.
“Marcel leaves the club with our warmest thanks for his significant contribution and our very best wishes for the future.”
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It’s a significant change driven by director of football John Murtough, who has a monumental task to steer the United ship around. Mitten reports that the pair’s departures pose as a changing of the tides in United’s scouting structure and a ‘streamlining’ of an operation currently deemed ‘too top heavy’.
United’s headline off-field change is due imminently, with Ajax boss Erik ten Hag set to take charge as manager this summer. The Dutchman will bring his own staff to Old Trafford and is expected to ring the changes to the broken squad he will inherit.
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