Reports have linked former Arsenal technical director James Ellis with Bristol City’s vacant sporting director position
The view from the tunnel at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate(Image: Photo by Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)
Former Arsenal technical director James Ellis feels he has an “unfinished impact and objectives” he would like to achieve after departing the Emirates, amid recent reports linking him with Bristol City’s vacant sporting director position.
As confirmed by Robins CEO Charlie Boss in a letter to supporters published last month, City have begun the search to find a sporting director who will oversee coaching, recruitment, performance, medical and the academy, as the club aims to set Premier League standards.
According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Ellis has been interviewed by the Reds, and is also the subject of interest from the Robins’ Championship rivals and this weekend’s opponents, Norwich City.
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Ellis, who joined the Gunners from Fulham in 2021, was promoted to the position of technical director at the Emirates last summer, having previously been head of recruitment. In February, he departed the North London club after a restructuring and has now discussed his next steps amid links with Ashton Gate.
In an interview with the BBC’s senior football correspondent, Sami Mokbel, Ellis said, “I feel I have unfinished impact and objectives I would like to achieve.
“I have been through rejection, education, coaching, scouting, senior leadership, all in this and would like to carry on.
“I believe that investment in people is so important in high performance,” he added. “You undoubtedly need all of the technology, the data, the facilities you can have to support, but it’s the people that are irreplaceable – connections, relationships, support, understanding, care and motivation. Those who you lead, those who work for you or around you, they are so important.”
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Since Boss confirmed that the Reds had begun the process to appoint a sporting director, plenty of changes have already been made at Ashton Gate in terms of the leadership of the football club.
Three weeks ago, the decision was taken to relieve Gerhard Struber and his assistant, Bernd Eibler, of their duties and appoint Roy Hodgson as head coach on an interim basis until the end of the season. In the same release, it was confirmed that City’s technical director, Brian Tinnion, had been relieved of his first-team duties.
The yet-to-be-appointed new sporting director will be tasked with appointing Struber’s permanent replacement for next season. The most recent update surrounding the recruitment process for the off-the-field role was provided by Boss at Hodgson’s unveiling press conference at the end of March.
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“We’ve had a really good start to the recruitment process,” City’s CEO explained at Ashton Gate last month. “I’ve met a bunch of candidates already, and I’ve been really pleased by the standard of people – without exception – that share my belief that this club can be and will get to the Premier League.
“They have been passionate about the opportunity, so I think we’re in a really good place to hopefully have someone ready to bring in a new head coach and get everything prepared for the summer transfer window.
“My aim and my focus is on getting someone in place so that they can help us shape everything that comes in the summer,” Boss added. “That’s a new head coach, and it’s, of course, making sure we’re really well-prepared for that summer transfer window.”
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