Rangers lead domestic scout Robert Clarkson leaves club for role at English FA – The Athletic
Rangers have lost their leading domestic scout Robert Clarkson to the English FA’s talent ID programme, according to The Athletic.
Clarkson joined the Rangers set up in 2017; appointed by then director of football Mark Allen as part of a revamping project to the club’s none existent scouting system.
He helped Steven Gerrard build Rangers’ 2020-2021 title-winning side and will leave the Scottish club boasting a classy resume, with John Park coming in the opposite direction.
The scout joins Andy Scoulding in leaving the club, who was Rangers’ head of scouting in leaving the club; he joined Tottenham earlier this summer.
Readymade replacement
Clarkson is expected to play a pivotal part in Gareth Southgate’s England side, he will be utilised by using his vast knowledge of Scottish and English markets.
Nevertheless, it seems Rangers have already lined up a replacement for the top domestic scout.
Sporting director Ross Wilson has selected Park, the former head of recruitment at bitter rivals Celtic to reignite the depleted department.
Park is best known for his role in identifying the signings of Virgil Van Dijk, Victor Wanyama and Moussa Dembele during his time at Celtic Park.
Park joined Sunderland in 2016, leaving Celtic when Brendan Rodgers was appointed manager of the club.
The recruitment connoisseur’s most recent project was at Championship side Blackburn Rovers; where he helped Tony Mowbray turn his side into Play-Off contenders last season.
It’s thought Park’s method of buying unearthed talents and then selling them for huge profits is in line with Wilson’s vision for Rangers.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart got stuck into one player after what he did in the past month