Hagi as a Scout?

[clacher_holiday2]

cant see anybody talking about this today which is a big surprise, considering that the full back page of the daily record was an ict related story for the first time ever (friday, in the glasgow edition at least)

id like to apologise for previous comments to our new chief exec if the whole story about our scouting network in eastern europe and new links with manchester united are true!

here it is on the front page of the site - http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk

""BY GHEORG! CALEY SIGN WORLD CUP LEGENDS

Hagi and Popescu are hired as super scouts

By James Traynor

INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE are on the verge of signing up World Cup legends Gheorghe Hagi and Gheorghe Popescu.

The Romanian heroes are being lined up as super scouts for the Highland club as they try to break into the Eastern European market. And in another astonishing twist it was also revealed that Inverness hope to establish closer links with Manchester United to help boost their summer recruitment drive.

Inverness have already forged links with Hagi and Popescu in what is being seen one of the most important developments in the club's 12-year existence. The idea is that this most unlikely of partnerships will help Charlie Christie get his hands on the best of Romania's young talent.

Apart from hoping to plunder the Romanian playing fields Caley Thistle have been planning a major scouting drive behind the former Iron Curtain with Poland and even Kazakhstan in their sights. Following talks with Inverness representatives it is understood Hagi and Popescu, who are both coaching in Romania, have agreed to play a major role with Christie's club.

The two stars have very close ties with agents who have also agreed to help the Inverness club make the breakthrough.

Chairman Alan Savage is using his multi-national firm Orion Engineering, which is already strongly embedded in Eastern Europe, and he revealed: "Our director of football, Graeme Bennett, is going to be going over to Romania sometime soon.

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"Orion Engineering has a setup in that country and he's going to take advantage of that. It's not like we'll be stepping off the plane and asking directions. We have personnel over there and strong contacts. We're going to be seeing Popescu and Hagi to talk about bringing players in from Romania, initially.

"We've actually had some information on players from Kazakhstan as well, where the firm also operates.

"Also, there are 500 Poles working for the Orion group, so we have strong connections in Poland, where we also intend to tap into the potential for young, top-quality players who can fit very well into our wage structure. We've appointed a Polish scout.

"And we will work to strengthen our contacts and links in these countries in the hope of looking at players and recruiting maybe two foreign players next season."

Hagi was capped 124 times for Romania and scored 35 goal, starring in the World Cup and European Championship finals while Popescu, one of the best defenders of his day, won 100 caps.

The pair have been co-operating closely with Savage's people and all parties expect to make quick progress.

Savage, an Old Trafford season ticket-holder who has strong contacts within the Premiership champions, said: "We've very much been talking to Manchester United recently to build what could be a fruitful relationship.

"But we've also spoken to Celtic and have been offered players by Rangers as we look to next season.

"So, ideally, I think you will see us bring in maybe two loan players, two from Europe and there will be a signing to replace Darren Dods.

"We hope to persuade Craig Dargo to stay but funds will be available for his replacement if needed."

Christie is excited by the potential to bring in talent at a modest price and said: "You are talking about quality players and it would be great to bring in talent from Romania.

"It makes it all much easier if we can liaise with people of the quality of Hagi and Popescu."""

[Harry Chibber]

Rumours  :004:

[clacher_holiday2]

i just noticed!  it wouldnt let me delete

post whatever you like here itll be wiped away forever soon

[Scotty]

no need to delete - doesnt sound like a rumour

my take - for scouts, dont think Hagi and Popescu are a bad shout !!!! if they can find some players who are half as good as either of them then we will do well ...