Manchester United scouts Marcel Bout and Jim Lawlor have both left the club ahead of a major overhaul in the summer.
According to The Athletic, Manchester United are bracing themselves for a summer of change, with two of the crucial members in the scouting department leaving the club ahead of the end of the season. The two scouts in question are Marcel Bout and Jim Lawlor, both of whom have announced their departures from Old Trafford.
Their exits come in the aftermath of Manchester United’s recent 4-0 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Liverpool. The disappointing performance has led to fierce criticism over not only the players but also the coaching staff and management, with even the Manchester United recruitment team being questioned for their unimpactful signings.
It has led to the exit of Lawlor, who had been a part of the Manchester United setup since 2005. He was one of the close advisors to Sir Alex Ferguson and had played a key role in helping the Scot assert the club’s dominance in English football. Lawlor was previously the chief analyst at Old Trafford before becoming the chief scout in 2014.
“Jim Lawlor has decided to step down from his role as chief scout in the summer after 16 years with the club. During that time, Jim played a key role in the development of multiple trophy-winning Manchester United teams and was an important source of guidance to Sir Alex Ferguson and each of the managers who have followed him.”
“Jim leaves the club with our warmest thanks for his significant contribution and our very best wishes for the future,” Manchester United said in an official statement.
Marcel Bout, on the other hand, was brought in by Louis van Gaal in 2014. The two had worked together during their time at Bayern Munich from 2010 to 2011. Bout was serving as a scout at Manchester United since 2014 but looks set to leave the club in the summer.
“Marcel Bout has departed from his role as head of global scouting after eight years with the club. A respected figure within and outside of Manchester United, Marcel has played an important part as an assistant coach and in the strengthening of our scouting capabilities in recent years.”
“Marcel leaves the club with our warmest thanks for his significant contribution and our very best wishes for the future.” read an official statement from Manchester United.
The departures of Bout and Lawlor suggest an incoming overhaul at Manchester United, not only in the first-team but also from a management level, as newly appointed chairman John Murtough, looks to ring in the changes ahead of the new season. And with Erik ten Hag on the verge of joining Manchester United as their new manager, the sweeping changes could come to good use.