Orta set to join Leeds as Boro continue clear-out

VICTOR ORTA is set to join Leeds United as their new technical director as Middlesbrough continue a complete clear-out of their backroom staff.

Manager Aitor Karanka left by mutual consent in March, before the club was relegated under caretaker Steve Agnew. Now there is set to be a total overhaul of Karanka's support team, which had a distinctly Spanish flavour.

Owner Steve Gibson recently admitted, “Our plans have to be change all aspects of the club," and he singled out recruitment as having been a key reason for relegation.

”Many things have gone wrong,” Gibson said. “The recruitment policy was not what we thought. We want to smash the league next season, we want to go up as champions. We need to bring in the type of players to do what I said.

"We have a core of players who we feel are more than capable. We need to add to them, more flair, more pace."

Recruitment fell under the remit of chief scout Orta, who joined the club in December 2015 and has been discussing a settlement agreement. The Spaniard certainly arrived at the Riverside with extensive experience of European football.

Following a stint as a football journalist and agent, he joined Sevilla as technical secretary, working for seven years under the revered Sporting Director Monchi.

Orta played second fiddle to his compatriot, of whom he has spoken in awed terms, describing him as the best Sporting Director in Spain. In June 2013, Orta moved to Zenit St Petersburg as head of recruitment, helping to bring in Brazilian striker Hulk, before joining La Liga side Elche as technical director. It is fair to say that Gibson - and many others at the club - had expected more from him at the Riverside.

Elsewhere, a host of other Spaniards are leaving the club.

Senior analyst Juanjo Vila, assistant analyst Guillermo Alonso Salinas, interim goalkeeping coach Marcos Abad and first team fitness coach Carlos Cachada have all left.

And Brazilian Thiago Cruz, the head of academy recruitment and a big friend of club legend Juninho, has gone, as have academy stalwarts Dave Parnaby and Ron Bone, who have both retired.