Newcastle United journalist Lee Ryder caught the attention of some Toon supporters on Twitter recently after he shared a post that included a link to an article that was recently published by ChronicleLive discussing the Toon’s recruitment approach.
This article explains that before the pandemic, Newcastle United’s plan, in terms of their recruitment, was ‘to keep on top of young talent coming through the ranks around the continent’, however, the report also states that some of the club’s recruitment team ‘are still furloughed and could remain at home until the end of October’ – at which point the current transfer window will have shut.
In this recent article, Ryder also claims that Toon manager Steve Bruce has got ‘more say on transfers than people think’, with the 59-year-old taking up an ‘active role when it comes to scouting’.
After this report was shared on Twitter by Ryder, some Toon supporters replied to his tweet to share their thoughts on the article.
#nufc recruitment approach has been tweaked but scouting team still not up to full strengthhttps://t.co/I9IBriFdhn
— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) September 3, 2020
Some Newcastle United fans criticised the club, Toon manager Bruce and club owner Mike Ashley in response to this tweet.
tweaked from a flawed plan of buying only young players, in hope of turning a profit….. into no plan at all, because nobody running the club cares.
— Chris Parkin (@Chris_p18) September 3, 2020
Bruce out Ashley out
— davy (@djavy38) September 3, 2020
We have a recruitment approach? I thought it was just bargain basement free transfers…
— Shadders (@ShaddersNUFC) September 3, 2020
Some Toon supporters took issue with the club for still having some members of the recruitment team on furlough.
Are you surprised by this report?
YES
NO
Still find it astonishing that a billionaire, football club owner has staff on furlough. However, surely recruitment staff, with 4 weeks left in the window, are needed more than ever ????? Absolute #nufc !!!
— Mark Robson (@mark_robson10) September 3, 2020
So the club continues to abuse the furlough scheme but fans and journalists still think they’ll be paying transfer fees? @HMRCgovuk will be keeping a keen eye on it all. What a disgraceful way to operate a football club #NUFC https://t.co/Q8LS91S1ub
— Ian Armitage (@IanArmitage) September 3, 2020
It surely has to be a false economy to keep scouting staff on furlough. How much are they saving vs the potential benefit of identifying even one promising young player?
— cpscott9 (@cpscott91) September 3, 2020
Judging by the replies to this tweet, it appears as though plenty of Newcastle United fans are unhappy with the club’s approach to recruitment.
Considering that there is just over a month left in the current transfer window, it may be understandable why some of these Newcastle fans seem to be frustrated with the club for still having some members of the recruitment team on furlough.