FSG have already decided that Julian Ward’s successor at Liverpool should be an external appointment.
Ward stunned the club by handing in his notice on Thursday afternoon. Although he’ll stay on until the end of the season, work is already underway to determine who follows him as sporting director.
And according to 90min, the Liverpool owners want their next hire to be made from outside the club.
Ward had been promoted through various jobs at Liverpool during a decade at Anfield. But following his resignation, the club appear willing to go in a different direction.
As of yet, there are no reports suggesting who might be in the running for the coveted position.
Changes afoot as Liverpool change tack
It may not seem like a big piece of news, but this could be absolutely huge for Liverpool.
Yes, anyone incoming will have to align with the club’s vision, that goes without saying. But a new person will also bring a new outlook on things.
Sporting directors enjoy differing levels of influence at one club to the next. At Liverpool, they have to work within the financial restraints from the owners, as well as pursuing a very specific type of player.
Nevertheless, a good sporting director can still help to create the culture within the club. For example, Michael Edwards’ expertise were in data analysis. Under his watch, Liverpool become more and more data driven.
As a result, supporters knew exactly what to expect from the type of players they were recruiting.
This data-led approach touched every aspect of the club, and undoubtedly marked Liverpool out as a leader in the field.
Under Ward, that could have been expected to continue. But with a new person at the helm, and potentially new owners, everything could change for the Reds.
For some fans, that will be a good thing. For too long we’ve sat and watched other clubs have all the fun in the transfer window. But you’ve also got to be careful what you wish for. There are plenty of candidates out there who could offer plenty to Liverpool. Let’s see who comes into the running.
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