According to research by the London-based Sports Recruitment Company, only nine of the 24 Division One clubs has a qualified director or senior manager responsible for recruitment and HR matters.
Clubs in the commercially charged Premier League, however, appear to attach more importance to HR practice. Only three of the 20 clubs do not have qualified professionals in place.
‘We are continually led to believe that football clubs are becoming more professional 21st century businesses but that doesn’t seem to be the case,’’ said Will Lloyd of the Sports Recruitment Company.
“There are many examples of key individuals with key jobs that have very little real experience of their roles. This is particularly true of essential marketing and retail functions and this is where financial opportunities are being lost.”
These issues are among those to be discussed at a free seminar to be staged by the Sports Recruitment Company at the offices of law firm Addleshaw Booth, which partners the event, on February 27.
Representatives of soccer and rugby are invited to attend and take part in the programme, which will examine a wide range of recruitment and selection issues as well as the challenging legal environment surrounding employment contracts.
Confirmed speakers at the event include Paul Nolan of the Football Association, Peter Gandolfi, head of sponsorship at Nationwide Building Society and David Clayton of Leicester rugby club.
