Former Celtic talent spotter John Park has reportedly taken on a top scouting position at Rangers as sporting director Ross Wilson reshapes the recruitment department.
The 64-year-old was lauded for his vital role at Celtic in helping assemble a squad which would dominate Scottish football and secure a historic quadruple Treble. Virgil van Dijk, Moussa Dembele, Fraser Forster and Victor Wanyama were among his hits as he landed a host of gems at a bargain before being sold for a significant profit, with Ryan Christie the last signing of his 14 year spell in Glasgow's east end.
Park moved to Sunderland after Brendan Rodgers arrived and wanted his own man Lee Congerton to oversee transfer dealings in Glasgow's east end. After leaving Parkhead in 2016, the recruitment specialist worked with Tony Mowbray at Blackburn Rovers last term and helped rebuild the Ewood Park side into Championship playoff contenders, but left the club at the end of last season.
The Athletic report that Wilson has added Park to the scouting department ahead of the new campaign. They state his is not seen as a direct replacement for head of recruitment Andy Scoulding, who is reportedly joining Tottenham.
Park has previously spoken of how he likes to use the 'Moneyball' method to find top talent and bargain buys. Speaking on his philosophy at Celtic, he said: "It’s a lowball game, a Moneyball game, but it’s down to the staff behind the scenes to spot these guys approaching the end of their contracts, and knowing they’re good enough for Celtic, or at least being confident of it. You can talk about the Virgils (van Dijk), Moussas, but those bread and butter players who have come in for little or nothing have done every bit as much for Celtic as the big names.”
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