Boro hierarchy sign new 'long-term contracts'published at 14:53 GMT 30 October
14:53 GMT 30 October
Image source, Getty Images
Middlesbrough have announced head of football Kieran Scott and and head of recruitment Chris Jones have signed new "long-term contracts" to continue at the club.
Scott was appointed as head of football in August 2021 and was the key man in replacing Rob Edwards with current head coach Kim Hellberg when the former left for Wolverhampton Wanderers last November.
Jones, meanwhile, has impressed supporters with the signings he has helped bring in through the door at the Riverside Stadium this summer.
Boro signed 12 new players, including defender Ashley Phillips and striker Will Lankshear from Tottenham Hotspur, goalkeeper Radek Vitek from Manchester United, as well as Amario Cozier-Duberry on a season-long loan from Brighton, who have all made a big impact as the club currently sit top of the Championship.
The club also confirmed the appointment of Paul Watson as their new chief technical officer having arrived from Brentford.
"I'm delighted to sign a new contract and along with Chris we are excited about the future," Scott said.
"Bringing Paul in is a real coup for us. His focus is on the technical and data side of things, and he comes here with a successful background at Luton, Swansea and Brentford."
Pick of the stats: Bolton Wanderers v Middlesbroughpublished at 12:09 BST 22 October
12:09 BST 22 October
Bolton and Middlesbrough meet for the first time in seven years on Friday night (20:00 BST).
Boro come into the game on a 10-match unbeaten run while Bolton recovered from losing at home to 10-man Stoke by winning at Wolves and becoming the first side to deny Southampton at home with a 0-0 draw at St Mary's last weekend.
Bolton have lost their past four home league games against Middlesbrough, twice as many defeats as across their prior 27 meetings combined between September 1951 and January 2014.
Middlesbrough have won each of their past eight league games against Bolton Wanderers; it is their longest winning run against a side in their Football League history.
Bolton have lost just one of their past five league games (W3 D1), picking up as many points (10) as in their previous 12 league matches (W2 D4 L6).
Middlesbrough have struck 22 goals across their opening 11 Championship matches this season, their most at this stage of a campaign since 1986-87 in the third tier and their most in the second tier since 1963-64 (27).
Middlesbrough lead the Championship this season for build-up attacks (48) and passes per sequence (4.2), while only Cardiff City (9.8) have a lower PPDA value than their 9.9.