Mark Thomas

[Van der MoodHoover]

11 minutes ago, CaptainOx said:

Yeah Hanson left us in the summer and doesn't even appear to have ended up anywhere on trial since.

As for Thomas, been with us since July 2014 when brought in as part of Michael Appleton's staff. Very much the right hand man to Craig Dean (head of scouting) to begin with, but when Dean left for Leeds (October 2017), Thomas became the main man for all things recruitment, analysis and scouting. A big part of our links to the Irish leagues and successes with players brought over.

Successes include:
Rob Atkinson - signed from Eastleigh Jan 2020 Undisclosed fee. Sold July 2021 to Bristol City for circa £2m.
Rob Dickie - signed from Reading Jan 2018 Undisclosed fee. Sold Sept 2020 to QPR for circa £2m.
Tariq Fosu - signed from Charlton July 2020 Undisclosed fee. Sold Jan 2021 to Brentford for 750k (release clause)
Marvin Johnson - signed from Motherwell August 2016 650k. Sold August 2017 to Boro for circa £2.75m.
Ryan Ledson - signed from Everton August 2016 for a compo fee. Sold May 2018 to Preston for circa £1m.
John Lundstram - signed from Everton August 2015 for a compo fee. Sold July 2017 to Sheff Utd for 750k (final year of deal)
Luke McNally - signed from St Pat's Athletic Jan 2021 for circa 60k. Sold July 2022 to Burnley for circa £2.2m.
Joe Rothwell - signed from Man Utd July 2016 for a compo fee. Sold June 2018 to Blackburn for circa 500k (pre-agreed compo fee)
Mark Sykes - signed from Glenavon Jan 2019 for circa 50k. Joined Bristol City July 2022 on a free after running contract down.
Gavin Whyte - signed from Crusaders July 2018 for circa 75k. Sold July 2019 to Cardiff for circa £1.5m.

Loans over his time including Carlton Morris (now at Luton), George Baldock (now at Sheff Utd), Jonjoe Kenny (now at Hertha Berlin), Tyler Roberts (now at Leeds), Toni Martinez (now at Porto)

Also solid signings for the relevant levels - Liam Sercombe, Chris Maguire, Curtis Nelson, Cameron Brannagan.

Naturally there have been some "failures" as well - Hanson and Thorne have to be included, although with the latter, the entire medical department advised against and Karl Robinson overruled (a reoccurring theme in recent times). A couple of Irish/Scottish recruits haven't worked and there have been the failed loans that every club sees. 

But all in all, a pretty good hit rate for both improving the team, and younger "project" types to bring in and sell on.
It's noticeable that our recruitment tactic seemingly changed in the summer with older and bigger risk players coming in - Josh Murphy, Yanic Wildschut and now Thomas is looking to move on. Suggests he may have been undermined a bit more recently.

That sounds like a very impressive hit rate at spotting players.

Lots seem to move on-is that planned as it part of funding the club, or does it suggest a lack of retention.

[Crewton]

10 hours ago, Van der MoodHoover said:

That sounds like a very impressive hit rate at spotting players.

Lots seem to move on-is that planned as it part of funding the club, or does it suggest a lack of retention.

It's pretty normal for clubs in L1 and 2 with sub 10k average gates who want to stay out of financial trouble. 

[kevinhectoring]

12 hours ago, CaptainOx said:

Yeah Hanson left us in the summer and doesn't even appear to have ended up anywhere on trial since.

As for Thomas, been with us since July 2014 when brought in as part of Michael Appleton's staff. Very much the right hand man to Craig Dean (head of scouting) to begin with, but when Dean left for Leeds (October 2017), Thomas became the main man for all things recruitment, analysis and scouting. A big part of our links to the Irish leagues and successes with players brought over.

Successes include:
Rob Atkinson - signed from Eastleigh Jan 2020 Undisclosed fee. Sold July 2021 to Bristol City for circa £2m.
Rob Dickie - signed from Reading Jan 2018 Undisclosed fee. Sold Sept 2020 to QPR for circa £2m.
Tariq Fosu - signed from Charlton July 2020 Undisclosed fee. Sold Jan 2021 to Brentford for 750k (release clause)
Marvin Johnson - signed from Motherwell August 2016 650k. Sold August 2017 to Boro for circa £2.75m.
Ryan Ledson - signed from Everton August 2016 for a compo fee. Sold May 2018 to Preston for circa £1m.
John Lundstram - signed from Everton August 2015 for a compo fee. Sold July 2017 to Sheff Utd for 750k (final year of deal)
Luke McNally - signed from St Pat's Athletic Jan 2021 for circa 60k. Sold July 2022 to Burnley for circa £2.2m.
Joe Rothwell - signed from Man Utd July 2016 for a compo fee. Sold June 2018 to Blackburn for circa 500k (pre-agreed compo fee)
Mark Sykes - signed from Glenavon Jan 2019 for circa 50k. Joined Bristol City July 2022 on a free after running contract down.
Gavin Whyte - signed from Crusaders July 2018 for circa 75k. Sold July 2019 to Cardiff for circa £1.5m.

Loans over his time including Carlton Morris (now at Luton), George Baldock (now at Sheff Utd), Jonjoe Kenny (now at Hertha Berlin), Tyler Roberts (now at Leeds), Toni Martinez (now at Porto)

Also solid signings for the relevant levels - Liam Sercombe, Chris Maguire, Curtis Nelson, Cameron Brannagan.

Naturally there have been some "failures" as well - Hanson and Thorne have to be included, although with the latter, the entire medical department advised against and Karl Robinson overruled (a reoccurring theme in recent times). A couple of Irish/Scottish recruits haven't worked and there have been the failed loans that every club sees. 

But all in all, a pretty good hit rate for both improving the team, and younger "project" types to bring in and sell on.
It's noticeable that our recruitment tactic seemingly changed in the summer with older and bigger risk players coming in - Josh Murphy, Yanic Wildschut and now Thomas is looking to move on. Suggests he may have been undermined a bit more recently.

taking on youngsters shed by the big clubs’ academies can pay hefty dividends if you’ve got good contacts and a good eye. It’s not been a focus for us for obvious reasons 

[Bwash_Ram]

On 03/01/2023 at 16:33, Steve How Hard? said:

We'd be better off with his brother John. He could sing along to NMLs song. 

Nah he'd only c0ck it up.

Edited January 5, 2023 by Bwash_Ram

[therealhantsram]

21 minutes ago, kevinhectoring said:

taking on youngsters shed by the big clubs’ academies can pay hefty dividends if you’ve got good contacts and a good eye. It’s not been a focus for us for obvious reasons 

Luke Plange - case in point.

Malcolm Ebiowei would have been too, had be been allowed to.

Edited January 5, 2023 by therealhantsram

[Jubbs]

6 minutes ago, kevinhectoring said:

It’s not been a focus for us for obvious reasons 

If anything, I think that's probably been the most successful part of our recent recruitment.

Plange, Ebiowei, Rooney, Oduroh, Watson, Foulkes, Nunn and Lo-Everton are just recent examples of recruiting players when they were released from Premier League clubs. Plange, Ebiowei and Watson all sold for profit.

[CaptainOx]

14 hours ago, Van der MoodHoover said:

That sounds like a very impressive hit rate at spotting players.

Lots seem to move on-is that planned as it part of funding the club, or does it suggest a lack of retention.

Previously we've needed to sell 1 or 2 every summer to basically fund the club.
Playing at a ground we don't own, paying an extortionate rent and service fee to an ex Chairman being the underlying reason.

 

Recent takeover (rich Asians including ex Inter Milan chairman) has made us pretty wealthy for our size, which has influenced the types of signings made, with less of the younger talent being recruited and as I mentioned previously may have had some influence on Thomas' decision to move on.

[Ram@Lincoln]

4 minutes ago, CaptainOx said:

Previously we've needed to sell 1 or 2 every summer to basically fund the club.
Playing at a ground we don't own, paying an extortionate rent and service fee to an ex Chairman being the underlying reason.

 

Recent takeover (rich Asians including ex Inter Milan chairman) has made us pretty wealthy for our size, which has influenced the types of signings made, with less of the younger talent being recruited and as I mentioned previously may have had some influence on Thomas' decision to move on.

Interesting insight, sounds similar to the change we had from Clough with our old American owners, to the gazillion managers under Mel Morris. Carefully thought out recruitment signing players to develop and resale for big bucks under Clough, to signing those already developed and with big egos for the mega money with no resale potential under Mel Morris.

It'll be great to go back to the days of unearthing some gem and this time actually being in a position to keep hold of them. It's crazy that we've managed to find Ebiowei, Plange, Ebosele etc for nothing and not have them around anymore. Every year there's going to be rough diamonds, hopefully we're now in a position to find them and keep them.

This Mark Roberts sounds exactly like the chap we've needed for many years to head up recruitment, not Mel Morris' step son, Steve Mac's son etc.

[Crewton]

8 minutes ago, CaptainOx said:

Previously we've needed to sell 1 or 2 every summer to basically fund the club.
Playing at a ground we don't own, paying an extortionate rent and service fee to an ex Chairman being the underlying reason.

 

Recent takeover (rich Asians including ex Inter Milan chairman) has made us pretty wealthy for our size, which has influenced the types of signings made, with less of the younger talent being recruited and as I mentioned previously may have had some influence on Thomas' decision to move on.

They probably feel like a big improvement on some of your previous owners, but the "rich Asian" model has had more misses than hits I think, so it's worth keeping a close eye on the finances (not that we have had much luck with alternative models in the past either). 

[CaptainOx]

Notice period worked and now confirmed at our end as having left the club for Derby

https://www.oufc.co.uk/news/2023/february/mark-thomas-departs/

[BucksRam]

 

[IslandExile]

Has Mrs. Ince left for Reading then?

[Andrew3000]

Crucial appointment this, hope he continues his fine track record. Its a real sign of the new regime. Still no announcement on official site? Playing things more low key? Or likely tomorrow?

Anyhow,  the rebuild continues!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 20, 2023 by Andrew3000

[InstaRam]

Good job to take on because let's face it, the recruitments between Mel's arrival and the embargo was probably one of the worst in the world. Almost all players who contributed with any value on the pitch was either already here from before or came through the academy. Better times ahead! 

[CaptainOx]

1 hour ago, Andrew3000 said:

Crucial appointment this, hope he continues his fine track record. Its a real sign of the new regime. Still no announcement on official site? Playing things more low key? Or likely tomorrow?

Anyhow,  the rebuild continues!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He's listed within the club directory on your website so appear to be the low key side of things.

[S8TY]

I think before making too many comparisons or judging Thomas it’s also fair to say he will find it easier persuading or targeting certain players when you say Derby County are interested in comparison to Oxford United and that is in no way a slur on OUFC

There may well be many players more that he has suggested but could nit get them whereas Derby is still a big pull 

welcome aboard and good luck 

[Ambitious]

It's certainly no picnic being part of Derby's recruitment side under the current restrictions: no fees, no loan fees, no agent fees. It leaves it a very shallow pool to swim in. We know [at the moment] our wage bill budget is around £8m and the ceiling for any offers is £12k - including bonus payments. 

Now, I'm certain that Championship or not that the wage budget will be increased going into next season due to our revenues this season. 

The Championship has plenty of players coming to the end of their deals (not sure whether there are any year options, etc) but there's certainly a lot of options, but I'd imagine competition will be high for them. It's finding a striker that's going to be the toughest task - especially if we're promoted. We will likely need to rely on loan players or hope that we can strike gold with a free transfer, although you're either hoping for a player to kick start his career, ala Britt Assombalonga, Lucas Joao. Find a younger player who can develop quickly, like Daniel Jebbison or Josh Koroma. Not an easy task at all. 

I'd assume we will be quite active in trying to recruit Chiedozie Ogbene - he had a good start under Warne and then tailed away. Championship or not, I'd guess that he is earmarked for the summer. 

[ariotofmyown]

9 hours ago, InstaRam said:

Good job to take on because let's face it, the recruitments between Mel's arrival and the embargo was probably one of the worst in the world. Almost all players who contributed with any value on the pitch was either already here from before or came through the academy. Better times ahead! 

Since the time since Mel took over, you could probably argue that our 5-10 most succesful signings have been during the summer after relegation or the one before when about to go into admin.

Wildsmith, Houraine, NML and McGoldrick for starters.

[Ghost of Clough]

2 hours ago, ariotofmyown said:

Since the time since Mel took over, you could probably argue that our 5-10 most succesful signings have been during the summer after relegation or the one before when about to go into admin.

Wildsmith, Houraine, NML and McGoldrick for starters.

Carson, Davies, Shinnie, Byrne, Marshall, Kazim.

There's a common theme though - low fees (or none at all)

[LittleEatonRam]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64757170

 

"You get to the stage where you start wining and dining really. You start casting your net out and you need someone to steer the ship.

"It's a real big cog in a real big system."

I have absolutely no idea what Warne is on about there. Not a clue. He's mixed metaphors in a food processor there!