Gerard Houllier says new chief scout Jeff Vetere will set up a network to scour the globe for top talent

Nov 10 2010 by Mat Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

GERARD Houllier has tasked new chief scout Jeff Vetere with setting up a worldwide player recruitment network after admitting Villa’s system needed overhauling.

Vetere started last week after Houllier interviewed a host of impressive candidates to succeed Ian Storey-Moore, who left when Martin O’Neill quit in August.

He is multi-lingual and well connected across Europe and beyond as Villa attempt to tap into an overseas market which was largely ignored under O’Neill’s management.

Houllier is still keen to buy British but insists it is important to have contacts “practically in all continents”.

Asked if the scouting system needed to be improved, Houllier said: “Yes, we needed a structure and somebody who has got a network.

“I’m not talking about the players we know, but it is good to have someone who knows ‘This one is at the end of his contract’, ‘This one is available’ and ‘We should have a look at this one’.

“Some other clubs are far more equipped in terms of personnel for that. Initially I prefer to have English players but they are usually more expensive than the rest.

“Some teams like Bolton and Blackburn have players from everywhere in the world so you need networks practically in all continents.”