Good news indeed with another move strengthening a critical part of the Academy so that we can be more dedicated, aware and careful in handling the next Rooney, Barkley and Gordon and preventing Deja Vu of Small & Lawrence.

Looks like we are getting Lee Sargeson in from Brighton to be manager of scouting operations too. I guess the 120-point plan is now the 118-point plan.

Player Development Coach - is there deliberately any other type of Coach?

Excuse my ignorance but I thought Leighton Baines was in that role (?)

Getting the Brighton Scout on Board would certainly be welcomed, as they have unearthed some proper players.

Derek #4,

These titles can be confusing, Baines was once a “Professional” Development Coach, and John Ebbrell was, in his last post, Player Development Senior Coach. Of course Ebbrell has now gone and Baines is U18s Manager.

So, as I read it, Micciche is the new Ebbrell as “Lead”, and we may also be also looking for a Player Development SENIOR Coach under him.

Meanwhile, it appears that Dan Purdy has moved up to “Head of Recruitment” and Lee Sargeson as Head of Scouting Operations has taken Purdy's previous place which was Scouting and Operations Manager.

Sometime when I've got a spare week, I'll try to make sense of all these many positions.

The devil always hides in the detail – and in the reality that ensues - but this sounds a very positive move indeed, towards a club with a future and a decision maker (Thelwell?) who has some idea on how to make it appear. Meanwhile, the darker days of the past few years appear to have a parallel in Valencia...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64545162

Let's hope we really have turned a corner, or at least cottoned on to our previous wayward direction

Brighton changed their scouting model, moving to position specific scouts, eg, scout for centre-halves, scout for forwards.

Newcastle have moved to the same model now they have Dan Ashworth in charge. Wonder if we'll adopt this approach?

I like the fact we have got someone from Brighton, but what on earth has Purdy done to warrant a promotion?

It looks like Kevin Thelwell is starting to make changes in our backroom staff; the appointment of Lee Sargeson is really exciting, for me. Brighton have the best scouting system in the Premier League, so to get the man in charge of that operation bodes well.

I would also like us to set up a scouting network in South America, as they produce a lot of talented players. I realize 3rd party ownership of some South American players has caused a problem in the past. But, if we can get the younger players here before they become an item, what a boost that would be.

Many of the World Cup winning Argentinian squad were picked up for peanuts a few years back, and it's a market that we seem to ignore. Even Brighton picked up Mac Allister for £8 million and Martinez, who I think is the best keeper in the Premier League, went out on loan a couple of years back.

Sounds very positive – maybe with Brighton and Brentford showing the way, we can abandon the 'Hollywood' signings on mega wages and be a bit more canny.