| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Karl |
Posted - Oct 02 2002 : 11:37:16 AM
young players...
interconnection of various teams... secretary, etc.
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Lulu
It's quite simple
Tue Oct 1 12:32:00 2002
62.31.64.2
Levein is the manager (head coach as his new title is). He has an assistant manager, Peter Houston. I assume they both have the expected SFA coaching qualifications like other coaches.
The following is not fact but my assumption of how it works.
They take the team for training, I believe 4 mornings a week. There is a fitness coach, Tom Ritchie, who I assume, has qualifications along the lines of a gym instructor and knowledge of how the body works etc. Ritchie warms the players up before matches, going through exercises with the team. The team then work on formations to be used against opponents, set pieces etc under the guidance of Levein and Houston.
The under 21 and under 18 sides are managed by John McGlynn. Levein and Houston, as far as I know, have relatively little input at this level, although they are present at every match as observers and watch from the stand. I have seen them request that McGlynn bring on a certain player who they may be thinking of promoting to the first team, but for all intents and purposes the under18s/u21s view McGlynn as their gaffer. As far as is possible the young players do not train with the first team. One point of note is that ALL Hearts teams play to the same formations and general tactics that the first team use. The reason for this, is that as players come up the system they will already be playing the same style as their peers.
On evenings when Hearts are not playing, Levein and Houstie are regularly spotted at other games, usually someone who we will be playing against in the near future.
There is a scouting system in place and I think the club have various scouts in regions across the country/continent. When a player is recommended by a scout to the club, eventually the Head Scout, John Harvey will go to see that player for himself. If he thinks that is a player who Hearts may be interested in signing then Houston will go watch the player in action. Levein himself may also go watch him. At that point, if interest remains the player will be invited for a trial. If the trial is successful then negotiations begin between the board and the agent. The manager is NOT involved in negotiating contracts. It is seen as business and dealt with by the board alone.
The football secretary is female (probably why the whole system runs so smoothly!). Essentially she is Levein's PA.
I think she communicates things like travel arrangements, what the team will wear, hotel accomodation if necessary, flight details for scouting missions etc and just general organising (I could do that!!). To be honest I'm not sure of what her job entirely involves but I know that I am often referred to her if I am trying to arrange things like interviews (and very efficient she is too). She seems to know exactly where everyone is/should be at any allocated time and ensures they get there.
Mosiah, so nice of you to say I raise the level, usually you are suggesting I lower it (but really thats #1 or Scalys fault, hehe ;-)
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