Exclusive: Leicester in talks to hire James McCarron as new sporting director; plus what it means for Jon Rudkin
Leicester City are in talks to appoint City Football Group’s James McCarron as their new sporting director, sources have told Football Insider.
McCarron has previously worked as sporting director at Belgian club Lommel SK, who are owned by Man City‘s holding company.
Leicester are bringing in a Sporting Director to help the club rediscover its identity and ease the load on longstanding director of football Jon Rudkin.
The Championship big guns have identified McCarron as their top target and are now working on agreeing a deal.
James McCarron to join Leicester amid recent off and on-pitch struggles
Leicester have fallen from Premier League regulars to Championship relegation-battlers over the last few seasons as a result of mismanagement at the highest level.
The Foxes are 22nd in the second-tier right now, with League One a real possibility next term, and it is hoped that McCarron’s impending appointment will serve as a huge boost for the rest of this season and beyond.
He is currently the Global Football Director of Player Development for the City Group, having left his role as Lommel’s Sporting Director in July last year.
McCarron has previously held roles as Head of Sports Science and Medicine at Man City, Head of Performance at Sunderland and Elite Performance Manager for the Premier League.
Gary Rowett to be Leicester’s new manager as personnel overhaul close to completion
It has been all change at the King Power Stadium in recent weeks, with the club searching for a new first-team manager alongside a new director to assist Rudkin.
Both positions look set to be filled soon, with McCarron’s arrival due to be flanked by Rowett‘s appointment as the Foxes’ new boss.
The former Millwall, Birmingham and Oxford chief is closing in on being hired by Leicester as a permanent successor to Marti Cifuentes, following Andy King’s tough interim spell in charge.
His first game in charge is expected to take place at another of his former clubs, Stoke City, on Saturday afternoon, with the Foxes aiming to move out of the Championship relegation zone and towards safety.