Blackburn Rovers have undergone significant changes with the reintroduction of John Park and Rudy Gestede to the club. Park will assume the position of Head of Recruitment, while Gestede will take on the role of Head of Football Operations.
According to a report from the Lancashire Telegraph last week, Park is set to return to Ewood Park after departing the club in 2022. Subsequently becoming a free agent due to the expiration of his contract with Tony Mowbray, the recruitment chief was rehired.
Following the departure of Director of Football Gregg Broughton, Rovers have embarked on a restructuring of their recruitment department. Additionally, the club confirmed the exit of Sean Kimberley, the former Head of Recruitment. Park has successfully filled this crucial role, with expectations of Adam Owen assuming the position of Head of Technical, although this has not yet been formally announced.
The trio of Chief Executive Steve Waggott, Head Coach John Eustace, and Park will oversee Rovers’ transfer activities for the upcoming summer. Furthermore, a new Head of UK Scouting will soon need to be appointed as Tom Sutton has joined Huddersfield Town.
Meanwhile, Gestede has returned to Rovers to oversee Football Operations. In an exclusive interview with The Lancashire Telegraph last year, the former striker disclosed his pursuit of a CEO sports organization course in Manchester. Gestede expressed his aspiration to work in an executive role to influence a club’s direction.
“I want to work with a club in the executive direction to have a say on the organization of a club,” Gestede stated. “I want to see clubs grow like Brentford and Brighton. When they had just gone up to the Championship, I’d said they’d be in the Premier League because of the way they are run, the stability they have. They know how to make a plan and stick with it. I would like to find a club that can do that and we will see how high we can go.”
It has come to light that the 35-year-old has spent time shadowing at Rovers over the past year and is now preparing to assume a permanent position at the club.
This new development presents an exciting opportunity for Blackburn Rovers as they welcome back former players to influential positions within the club. The return of Park and Gestede highlights the club’s dedication to fortifying their infrastructure and vision for the future. With their expertise and experience, the duo is poised to make noteworthy contributions to the success and advancement of Blackburn Rovers.