Academy Head of Recruitment McGavin Leaves Town to Join Norwich
Tuesday, 31st Oct 2017 10:33

TWTD understands Town’s head of academy recruitment Steve McGavin is set to join Norwich City’s youth set-up in a similar role having left the Blues.

McGavin handed in his notice at Playford Road last week and, as is customary in these circumstances, has been put on gardening leave.

In a statement given to TWTD, academy manager Lee O’Neill said: "I can confirm that Steve has left the club’s academy. Both Bryan Klug and I would like to put on record our thanks to Steve for his services over the last five years.

"We will now look to restructure our recruitment strategies and resources to better align them with the future needs of the club and the requirements of EPPP. Announcements regarding new appointments will be made shortly."

The 48-year-old was appointed to his position with the Blues in the summer of 2012 during the changes of personnel following Klug’s return as academy director.

Among the players McGavin was responsible for bringing to the club who have subsequently broken into the senior squad are Myles Kenlock, Josh Emmanuel, Pat Webber, Ben Folami, James Blanchfield and Monty Patterson.

West Suffolk-based McGavin was a youth player with Town in the mid-eighties without making a senior appearance for the Blues.

The striker subsequently had spent spells with Colchester United and Birmingham City among others in the Football League before playing in non-league football locally.

McGavin's son, Brett, a midfielder, is currently a second-year scholar at Playford Road.

Norwich have recently been carrying out a review of their academy structure with a number of staff members moving on, including their previous head of recruitment Gregg Broughton.

Photo: TWTD

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blueboy1981 added 18:54 - Oct 31 ..... fair comment Dissboyitfc - but can you imagine what it is currently like working at Portman Road, under the present regime ? My guess is that employees are walking on what could be described as eggshells. Would you want to be on the payroll right now by choice ?
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oldegold added 22:26 - Oct 31

One simply can't blame him for leaving.We are an unambitious club that has lost its way with a silent president and a tactically inept manager who is anchored with a style of football that went out years ago. The club has lost direction, staff demotivated and my Black Dog tells me that inside the club all is not well and there are several ructions about to happen..seems the ME magic has worn out...

Dissboyitfc added 07:20 - Nov 1 People change jobs its a fact of life it happens. But to think he will now be directly competing against ITFC for the best youngsters in the area. How could any true fan work for Norwich and tell the youngsters and their parents to come to norwich? for me it beggars Belief and i dont get it!
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Tractorboymole added 16:37 - Nov 1 Gardening leave? So was he sacked? If its true he was ignoring quality players that ended up being signed by other Academies, then maybe we should not be to surprised! Sad if he joins Norwich though!!
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shoopdelang added 07:41 - Nov 2 Is his son any good ?
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ToughTickler added 13:44 - Nov 2

I'm not in the least bit surprised to hear this. He had both hands tied behind his back by the owner, who wouldn't spend Christmas. After being over and back to Ipswich for a couple of years, my boy was due to join Ipswich. He liked them and they liked him. But it fell apart because the club wouldn't pay the relatively small money due to the schoolboy clubs he had played with. Ended up being a blessing in disguise, as he has gone on to a much better football opportunity. Messed us around no end, though. The club looked after him well whenever he was there and Steve was part of that. But Ipswich is trying to do all of this on the cheap. Penny wise, pound foolish. It's a bit ironic that he's gone to Norwich, because he had a knicker fit when my lad went on trial there after Ipswich had made a verbal offer, but with nothing on paper. Funnily enough, he said no to Norwich (who left him sitting in a changing room for 6 hours on his first day!) because they didn't look after him as well as Ipswich did.