Town’s new director of football operations Gary Probert started his job with the club on Monday and has outlined what his role will entail.

Probert was previously with Bristol City having been in a variety of roles since 2013, most recently academy manager, a position he was appointed to by current Blues CEO Mark Ashton during his time at Ashton Gate.

Prior to his spell with the Robins, Probert was county development manager with the Gloucestershire FA and before that was youth development manager and further education manager at Forest Green Rovers between 2005 and 2007.

Probert, who has a BSc in Sports Coaching from the University of Wales Institute, an UEFA A Licence and an FA Advanced Youth Award, will oversee the Blues’ recruitment, academy, analysis, U23s and loans programme.

“I’ve spent four or five days here now and it’s been really enjoyable,” Probert told iFollow Ipswich.

“There are some really good players so I’m looking forward to getting to know them better and hopefully playing a role, alongside the other staff, in helping them develop.

“I will be working really closely with Lee O’Neill and the staff in the academy to look at that transition of players to the senior team.

“As much as things are progressing with the ownership and the plans here, we need to make sure there is a pathway for local and homegrown players.

“The other thing is trying to link that with recruitment to make sure the overall recruitment plan fits what is needed for today but also for the long-term goals of the club.

“In this first period, a lot of my job is going to be looking ahead to the January transfer window in terms of the recruitment infrastructure - working out where things are at currently and how we need to move that forwards.

“That links to the work that Lee and the staff are doing, particularly with the U23s and possibly the U18s in terms of what the plan is for those young players.

“We'll be looking at what's beneficial for each player, whether that's a loan move, a step up in training group, work experience options.”

Photo: ITFC

Swoody added 18:06 - Nov 5 How times have changed from Marcus and his two mates to a massive back room staff team
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PortmanTerrorist added 18:17 - Nov 5 The Scum have put us to shame with their professionalism in approach in recent years. We are now building the infrastructure to not just match them but take things further; add that to the passion for our Club which always trumps our neighbours and the balance of power in East Anglia is surely already shifting. Welcome Gary and look forward to you playing your part in our resurgence !

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Gforce added 20:01 - Nov 5 Anyone know if the scums parachute millions end this season, I really hope so.Would be very interesting to see how they cope in the championship without their usual safety net of previous seasons.
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rfretwell added 20:53 - Nov 5 Ah the pathway rears its head again. How difficult can it be? Loan out to an appropriate club or if they are good enough train with the first team and maybe even get on as a late sub. Sir Bobby had very modest backroom support.
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ArnieM added 21:32 - Nov 5 Portman Terrorist : With all due respect , you do ITFC a disservice with your comments regarding narwich and Town. You seem to forget that they have had over £600m in Sky money pumped into their club over the last decade . You'd EXPECT any club receiving that amount income to be able to “ do something” with it . Town by comparison have been financial wrung out since our administration days. I agree with you however that Town are about to come full circle, and some, this also on the back of some hefty financial backing . Football unfortunately is only about the size of your bank balance these days .

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Sharkey added 12:09 - Nov 6 Can't say I feel much wiser what this bloke's job actually entails, day to day.
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bobble added 07:13 - Nov 7 he was part of the management team involved in bristol city winning the european cup, wasnt he ?
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