New DOF

LEE CONGERTON is in line to become Sunderland’s new director of football, the Echo understands.


The Black Cats have taken their time considering various options to replace Roberto De Fanti after the Italian was sacked in January, just six months into his tenure at the Stadium of Light.

But Sunderland have been keen to persist with the director of football model and Hamburg technical director Congerton is believed to be the man they have chosen to replace De Fanti.

Former Chelsea chief scout Congerton has impressed Sunderland’s hierarchy and he is now expected to be appointed at the Stadium of Light.

Crucially, it is also understood that head coach Gus Poyet has had a say in Congerton’s appointment and is happy to work alongside him.

Poyet did the majority of Sunderland’s January transfer work with chief executive Margaret Byrne, but was conscious of the workload demands.

And the former Brighton manager hinted last month that Sunderland were likely to appoint a new director of football after their Capital One Cup final commitments were concluded.

Welshman Congerton, who was linked with a similar role at West Brom 18 months ago, climbed the ranks at Chelsea - working with the club’s Under-19 side before eventually being promoted to the chief scout role under then technical director Frank Arnesen.

When Arnesen joined Hamburg in 2011, Congerton followed him to the Bundesliga and he has built an impression reputation in Germany.

It is thought that he has always been Sunderland’s principle target to replace De Fanti and certainly has better credentials for the role than the dismissed ex-agent.

Former Leeds United technical director Gwyn Williams, who was responsible for taking Poyet to Chelsea during his playing days, had also been linked with the job.

But it is understood that Williams was never seriously in the running for the post.

Sunderland chairman Ellis Short continues to believe the director of football system will provide greater success for the Black Cats in the transfer market.

Short appointed De Fanti during the summer after questioning the money Sunderland had invested in players, without the club reaping any significant rewards.

And it is hoped that Congerton, together with Poyet, can find better value for money in the market.

 

If Gus is happy with him then that's what matters. Need them to work along side each other

 

Lee speaking in 2012

I think it is frowned upon a lot in England because the managers don't really understand what the role is. In England it's perceived that the sporting or technical director is signing players that he wants to play in the team.

But we don't bring a player here that the coach doesn't want - ultimately he has to play them in the team. What we do is try to minimise the risk, so that we know the player and gather detailed information on them because the coach also has to understand that the sporting director has a responsibility to the organisation.

 

I see the role as someone who targets players that Gus wants or has said 'Bring me info on this player' etc or 'check this lad out at this club' AND bringing him targets in areas the squad and team is weak in.

Its also a case of bringing players to Gus's attention you feel could fit into the team very well and would improve the team

 

In a nutshell mate

 

Why do I get the feeling that Gus is setting out some long terms plans for the club?

Lets hope the next signing is Gus' extended contract!

 

Spot on - Di Fanti was approaching Gus with players he had found, not Gus approaching him to ask him to go for them. It may be that a DOF does occasionally say "I can't get x but y is available and is a similar type of player" but the way Fanta was doing it was exactly the opposite to the way this lad is speaking.

My only reservation - he's Welsh

Also - exactly what Shy Tall Knight said - get Gus on a long termer

 

Couldn't add any more that myself.

 

Football.

Having been linked with the role since the departure of Roberto De Fanti, it now appears that Hamburg's Lee Congerton will soon be installed at Sunderland's new Director of Football.

The Welshman's name has been in the frame since day one and now having had the blessing of Gustavo Poyet, it would appear he will be on his way here once terms have been agreed with Bundesliga side.

Congerton rose through the ranks at Chelsea, impressing then Technical Director Frank Arnesen who promoted him to Chief Scout from working with the Under-19 side. Congerton is credited with bringing the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Gael Kakuta, Scott Sinclair and Fabio Borini to the Londoners.

Congerton followed Arnesen to Hamburg and was made the Technical Director of the Bundesliga side.

Speaking about the role in 2012 the Welshman explained further about how the role works. With it being something new to us on Wearside, it does provide good insight;


I think it is frowned upon a lot in England because the managers don't really understand what the role is. In England it's perceived that the sporting or technical director is signing players that he wants to play in the team.

But we don't bring a player here that the coach doesn't want - ultimately he has to play them in the team. What we do is try to minimise the risk, so that we know the player and gather detailed information on them because the coach also has to understand that the sporting director has a responsibility to the organisation.


Congerton is expected to be installed during this month.

 

Gustavo Poyet’s control over Sunderland’s transfer policy has been confirmed after he was allowed to rubber-stamp their new director of football.

Welshman Lee Congerton is expected to leave his job as SV Hamburg’s technical director to become the Black Cats’ next director of football this month.

The club’s last director of football, Roberto De Fanti, arrived at Sunderland after former head coach Paolo Di Canio, but had still been involved in the recruitment of his fellow Italian, who complained at being presented with players he did not approve of.

Now it seems the balance of power has shifted, with the new man taking a different attitude.

De Fanti left his post during the January transfer window, leaving Poyet in complete control of signings. That responsibility will now pass to Congerton.

Despite the patchy record of former agent De Fanti in his six months in the role, Sunderland chairman Ellis Short is committed to the principle of a director of football, commonplace on the Continent.

De Fanti signed 14 players last summer. Modibo Diakite, Cabral, David Moberg-Karlsson and Duncan Watmore have been loaned out.

Valentin Roberge, Jozy Altidore, El-Hadji Ba, Emanuele Giaccherini, Charis Mavrias and Andrea Dossena are yet to have the hoped-for impact. Against that, Vito Mannone, and the on-loan pair of Fabio Borini and Ki Sung-Yeung, have been some of the club’s best players this season.

Congerton made his name at Poyet’s former club Chelsea, where he worked as youth-team coach, then chief scout. His responsibilities included overseeing the introduction of players such as Borini into the first team.

Before joining Chelsea Congerton worked as Wrexham’s youth system director, then joined Liverpool’s coaching staff. His relationship with Chelsea’s then-sporting director Frank Arnesen saw him follow the Dane to Hamburg in 2011.

Congerton has stressed in the past he does not believe directors of football should sign players without the coach’s approval.

“I think it is frowned upon a lot in England because the managers don’t really understand what the role is,” he said. “In England it’s perceived the sporting or technical director is signing players that he wants to play in the team.

“But we don’t bring a player here that the coach doesn’t want – ultimately he has to play them in the team. What we do is try to minimise the risk, so that we know the player and gather detailed information on them because the coach also has to understand that the sporting director has a responsibility to the organisation.”

The former Crewe Alexandra player has spoken in the past of his desire to work as a sporting or technical director in England, but Hamburg refused West Bromwich Albion permission to appoint him to replace Dan Ashworth when he left to join the Football Association at the end of last season.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Larsson has explained his angry reaction to being substituted in Sunday’s League Cup final, saying it was aimed at referee Martin Atkinson for not giving a foul in the build-up to Yaya Toure’s goal.

“My little outburst was not directed against any of our staff,” he said.

“Obviously, you’re never happy to be replaced, but I was angry at the referee. You become frustrated because we should have had a free-kick just before the equaliser. Then City score a second goal and the frustration spills over a bit.”

Craig Pawson has been appointed to referee Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Hull City. Pawson refereed Poyet’s first game as Sunderland coach, a 4-0 defeat at Swansea City.

 

Awesome - a game where Chico committed 4 yellow card offences and one potential red and stayed on the pitch! Wonder how much Hull will get away with?

 

What does Margaret Byrne actually do? Has she been successful?

Seems to me this is a role where we could be improved?

 

I like to think I know a bit about the game outside of the pitch, but what exactly IS the difference between a scout and a DOF? Especially if LC is saying that he will only bring in players the manager wants.

DOF just sounds like a fancy name for a scout.

Forkhandles - Director of personal opinions.

 

She works hard and gives Ellis all the chubby ****ing he needs.

 

Assuming we stay up ( a big or little assumption, depending on your view point) I imagine with the number of players out of contract we are in for a busy time..perhaps one or two that were brought in last summer may be ready for a move to the first team?

The Secret Footballer reckons he could be a DoF, which is basically a head scouts job plus handling contracts/agents/negotiations etc so the manager can get on with coaching. "Arry of course does not do coaching he is a DoF, Gus imho is a coach but has strong views as to who he wants in his squad.

 

tony if these are your questions, why do you say it could be improved upon ?

 

Stu I just don't get what her job is? She negotiates contracts for new players and current players? If so this is a shambles at the moment. Selling the club? Financial side? What does she do? Bet she is on a pretty penny?