Robbie Savage warns Mark Noble as West Ham United share statement
Robbie Savage expects many sleepless nights for Mark Noble after it was confirmed that he’ll be the new sporting director at West Ham from 2 January onwards.
It was confirmed last week that Noble, 35, will be returning to the London Stadium in a behind-the-scenes role after hanging up his boots at the end of last season.
He’ll be working closely with David Moyes, the recruitment team and the academy and Savage has warned Mr West Ham that it won’t be an easy ride.
Writing in his column in The Mirror on Monday (24 September, print edition, page 61), Savage said: “The sporting director’s role now comes with almost as much pressure as is on the manager or head coach – and I should know, because my job at Macclesfield is unrelenting, unforgiving and 24/7.
“It’s also frustrating, time-consuming and draining when you get it wrong and not to be confused with an ambassador, who meets and greets on matchdays.
“You are the link between board and manager, and you need to work with people you can trust.
“The first thing I did was to bring in a head of recruitment, a super-scout who could identify potential new signings and find out if their backgrounds with fit in with our culture and our level.
“That’s an area where Noble will be a vital link in the culture and future direction of West Ham on the pitch. Good luck to him – and welcome to the land of sleepless nights.”
Good luck, Nobes
We hope that this isn’t just some kind of symbolic role for Noble.
He’s gone away to the USA to study for a job like this and his experience at the London club is obviously unlike anyone else in the game.
However, we do have one worry about this appointment.
Whether you like Savage or not, read what he’s said again and look at just how much work goes into this role at a non-league club that doesn’t have half the number of people to deal with as at West Ham.
And then look at the official announcement from last week.
West Ham confirmed on 22 September that the former Irons captain “will continue to spend time working on a number of personal projects and business interests as he recommences his dedicated service to West Ham United in the new year”.
He’s going to be doing other bits and bobs at the same time?
Will he be working as much as he actually needs to as our sporting director then because it sounds like a very full-on job.
Let’s hope he can find a way to balance everything without having to give stuff up.