Rigg appointed Technical Director of Burnley
Rigg left Fulham in December 2016
Written by Simon Austin — November 22, 2018
MIKE RIGG, the former Chief Footballing Officer at Fulham, has been appointed Technical Director at Burnley.
The 49-year-old, who has also held senior positions at Manchester City and the Football Association, will “oversee a new, large investment programme in growing the talent identification and analysis teams at the club”.
However, manager Sean Dyche will continue to be the dominant football figure at the club. Dyche was heavily involved in the recruitment process for the role, even helping to conduct the interviews, and will report into chairman Mike Garlick, rather than the new Technical Director.
The Clarets boss said recruitment would be Rigg's major focus, as director Brendan Flood had told TGG earlier this month.
Dyche said: “I have mentioned over the past couple of years how important it is to grow all areas of the club, and recruitment structuring and how we want to go forward, is an important part of that.
“I think at the end of a good process for the club, involving myself and the chairman, amongst others, we have found someone who can help the club to grow. By bringing in Mike, I think it’s a great opportunity for him to stamp his side on the way that we work.
"Within the role it’s not just recruitment, but that’s a big part of it, and with Mike’s background, both here and abroad, in searching for the right players for Burnley Football Club, I think that experience will be needed and used wisely, and that’s what we’ll look to Mike to add to what we already do.”
Rigg, who starts his new role on December 1st, added: “I am delighted and absolutely honoured to be asked to come and join the club.
“I have worked for over 30 years in football, starting out as a community officer, which was a terrific grounding, and have been lucky to work with national associations and club sides.
“I feel I have an excellent understanding of all areas and how things have to fit together to be successful.
“What Burnley has achieved over the past few years is absolutely phenomenal and I hope I can do everything possible to support Sean and try and strengthen the club’s position moving forwards.”
Other than five months in 2015, when Frank McParland was Sporting Director, this is the first time the Clarets have had such a role.
Garlick said: “We are delighted to welcome Mike on board. All of the candidates which Sean and myself interviewed were of a very high calibre.
"Mike stood out as someone who we feel can help move the club forward in terms of identifying and hiring the best possible footballing talent, both on a national and international basis.
“It’s an area of the club that we need to invest in and improve further, and we feel sure that Mike’s wealth of experience will be a valuable asset to us.”
Rigg has worked in a variety of roles in football over the last three decades. He started in the community schemes at Wrexham and Chester before becoming Technical Director for the FA of Wales from 1995.
He was Head of Academy at Sheffield Wednesday, Chief Scout for Blackburn and then Head of Player Acquisition at Manchester City under their new Abu Dhabi owners.
Roles as Technical Director at QPR, Head of Talent Identification at the Football Association and Chief Footballing Officer at Fulham followed.
After leaving Craven Cottage in December 2016, he has worked as a Global Football Advisor for executive sports recruitment firm SRI.
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