The man who discovered the likes of Jack Wilshere, Sanchez Watt, Cedric Evina and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has quit Arsenal, Young Guns can exclusively reveal.
Sean O’Connor, Arsenal’s Head of Academy scouting has walked away from the club with ‘in house politics’ behind blamed for the decision. Sean has been with the Gunners for over 10 years, undertaking his role on a part-time basis until last term when he became full-time at Hale End.
The first group of players scouted and signed by Sean included Paul Rodgers and Rene Steer who have recently been released. The second wave is currently one of the most successful in recent history with the Under 18’s scooping the domestic ‘double’ last year. His vast range of contacts among outfits around the country and within school sides in North London is impeccable and there is no doubt Arsenal will struggle to replace such a man.
O’Connor is believed to be negotiating a release settlement due to the recent batch of Under 17’s signing scholarship terms. His reputation speaks for itself and Sean will surely be missed by all at Arsenal.
Article By – J.Sanderson
In house politics? Care to speculate JS? Nice scoop btw
what the hell happened? You must have some idea?
I guess chelsea offered more money.
I guess chelsea offered more money.
Jom said this on September 10, 2009 at 11:57 pm
If it’s something like this then he’s a sell-out cos he’s an Arsenal fan.
The last line of the article couldn’t be any truer as this man is brilliant at identifying young talent. I heard something about this a few weeks ago from a reliable source but didn’t wanna believe it until i saw it for myself but now that J’s reported it, it must be true. This is a sad day. I hope we get someone in who’s just as good or even better.
Thanks Claude.
Jom, as far as I’m aware Sean has not left for another club. Young Guns will be in contact with Sean shortly and hopefully we can get his view.
TJ – I agree mate.
Sean has gone to set up Brentfords Academy.
JS – If/when you do, as long as it doesn’t offend him and exploit his own private/confidential issues/reasons, can you keep us posted?
Chelsea? U must be joking chelsea fail to produce players now they are trying to nick one our chief scouts.
Of course, I will invite him to do an interview. I know he’s already rejected the Sun. And I don’t blame him.
well maybe chelsea noticed two good he was and seeing how bad their academy is wanted him to fa fill the chelsea owner happy
Noby’s bigger than the club. This – to me – look’s like a disagreement on how things should be done at the club. And if he doesn’t want to speek, I respect him for that. In fact, silence is a rarity in today’s football…
Chaps, no one has said that Chelsea has come in for him. Lets wait and see what the facts are before coming to conclusions. JS look forward to any further information on this. He is a real loss, especially at a time when UEFA seem hell bent on wreaking havoc on youth transfers.
isn’t this absolutely MASSIVE?! The head scout of our youth teams has gone. Surely there should be more of a fuss made over this?
well, who knows really. Could be from a range of issues from a former player or another scout stepping up, maybe there was disagreements on who to sign or sign on, or just differences in how to run things. In house politics would imply some differences for and against though
Get rid of guy who brings in top talent is nuts. I wonder what the real story is?
as big a loss it is, he’s not the only scout in the world who can spot potential talent ppl. i’m sure he’ll be replaced with somebody just as good
If this is true, then it’s unfortunate. But Arsenal will survive his departure in due course and move on. That’s life. Let’s thank him for his services to the club and wish him well.
It is obviously a disagreement on a player,
Perhaps , he wanted a player to get a contract and arsenal disagreed,
Spoke to my source earlier today and apparently, the rumour is that Roy Massey has brought in a couple of coaches to work at Hale End, one or two of which are his son’s/son’s friend(s). Sean O’Connor didn’t like this and felt it was unprofessional on Roy’s behalf as it undermined the Club as these coaches weren’t up to Arsenal standards and had only been appointed to these roles due to their connections so quit when the Club didn’t go back on the said appointments.
Worse still, Jom’s speculation, way up there, that he may gone to Chelsea also seems to be true. He’s now at Chelsea i was told.
This news has reached me through a friend who spoke to one of the guys who works at Hale End full-time. In other words – don’t take it as gospel (i never do until it has been proven beyond doubt), it may, or may not be the case. This is what i’ve heard, that’s all.
IMO I think it will about the commission paid/or not been paid on players he has found.
I always thought that it was between Steve Rowley and Liam Brady as well as Wenger the reason we have this great bunch of talent coming through.
Either way its not good. There seems to be quite a few in house disputes between the hierarchy at Arsenal these days!
Ben – maybe man. I could see that.
TJ – very interesting.
Marko: Wenger is manager, he hires both scouts and coaches. Liam Brady is head of u18 and reserve development, so while he may have a say in the sort of they player they are looking for, doesn’t find them himself. Steve Rowley is head of all scouting for the club, so he is the person who tells Wenger who to hire, and the likes of Grimandi what to look for in France and rely that back to Wenger.
O’Conner was directly under Rowley and Wenger, head of searching the 90mile district of who to take on at u9 level to be taught the Arsenal way. While they will have significant input into what type of player to look for (and most probably have a final say on the kids), he is the one responsible for actually finding those most suitable. Or was.
No-one is essential in football, not even Wenger. But it’s a shame to see more in-house strife at all levels years after Dein left. If I was to wish for something this season, I think I would take back-room and board-room stability and certainty even over trophies!
TJDA Goon- this has nothing to do with RM and everything to do with LB bringing in CL who has got rid of several coaches in a bid to take RM job. There is a split amongst the coaches hence the high turnover of coaches over the last 2-3 years.
@ Magneto, well said however i dont like us losing our staff to bloody arrogant Chavs.
Pingback: WHAT IS ARSHAVIN’S COMMITMENT; FERGUSON SCARED OF LOSING CL PLACE; CESC WILL LEAVE « The Arsenal Brief
m ginger – That’s a bold statement and may be true. How sure are you mate?
I’m sure the club will replace him. He have found fantastic players but it is our coaches who actually made stars. Big talents is ussually spotted very early but stars is made. I’m pretty sure we still have very very good scouts in the club. It might be a coincidence he have found those players. We teach our youths the right way, just look at our current academy, from our first team all the way down to U16 level we seems to have some fantastic players. I don’t know how good our kids is in U15, U14 etc is becouse I can’t watch them play. But something tell me they must be good too. Losing this scout is like losing a medical staff in our first team.
Should we be worried? Who will replace him?
You have been picked up by the Daily Mail, J! They have this story, with the In House Politics, on their website.
Seems Arsenal fans are jumping each time somebody screams Barcelona these days.
Relax, if he was just scouting nine year old kids, then it is not like it is going to affect the club tomorrow. Also when it comes to coaches as mentioned, any major turnover over a ten year period as Wenger talked about would naturally mean he could not change out all the staff at once but build on and pass on expertise. And anyone has to agree that it has been a major change, just look at the three executives just hired
m ginger – who is “CL”?
crafty bison – Carl Laraman.
Jom – I can assure you there are a lot of great young talents coming through at all those levels.
Sean was not a scout. He had a team of scouts who would go out and spot talent from ages 9 to 13 (i think). If the scout thought they were worth a closer look, the kid would be invited, through his parents of course, for a 6-week trial at Hale End. After which, if Sean, as well as one or two other guys (namely, Carl Laraman) liked what they saw, the kid would be signed up.
TJ DA GOON… Well that is great news and sounds even better than I thought about Sean.
I’m sure we will continue to produce top quality players. Thanks for the great news TJ.
Arsenal better not lose …
Pingback: Top Posts « WordPress.com
sean wont be going to any other club he’s an Arsenal born and braed goone, proably more Red then any other person at Arsenal.
absolute nonsense he is not at any club,he did not have any major disputes even though there are some not so nice individuals in the dressing room and i believe he will be back in the game within a year as his technical eye and knowledge is second to non
I have a very good freind who works at the club he he has told me that sean was pushed and did not jump camp’s. Sean has turned down numerous offers from other club’s to join them, so that may tell you a storey about him.
Sean was the only person at the academy who would not suffer the crap that is going on there, and that is why he no longer works there.
Apparentley sean had a run in with Liam Brady. Sean is back working again @ wait for it………………….NOT Chelsea BUT another big London Club>…………………………………………………………………….BRENTFORD FC.
When you work in football you work in an industry that employs the biggest twats that
you could imagine , and from what I hear and from what ive been told the Arsenal academy
employ the biggest and the best around. It would be good to hear from someone who actually works within that department now and see what he has to say about the day to day
running at that place.
Yep thats right sean is now head of recruitment at Brentford, but if you know the full storey sean turned down a lucrative job at Tottenham where he was asked to run all the scouting fro the club. I wonder why he chose Brentford ahead of Tottenham, seems a funny choice
for someone who has worked at the top level to drop so far down the leagues.
I work for Tottenham and he was not offered job, he has gone to brentford as Matthew Benham the new owner is a close friend and money talks, he has also taken a few scouts from arsenal. Sean and Ossie from watford Fc are taking over the centre of excellence.
Pingback: ‘In House Politics’ Claims Another Victim At Arsenal | Young Guns - Arsenal Reserves & Youth News
Pingback: ‘In House Politics’ Continues As Arsenal Hemorrhage More Staff | Young Guns - Arsenal Reserves & Youth News
It’s true, sean is @ Brentford, rumour has it he has just sign a young gem called Fabian ive watch this kid play and he looked like an Arsenal player so we will miss sean, but Brentford will do big things in time, the man will tranform them into a mini Arsenal!!!