"GodalmingYellow" wrote:Looking at TNS website, they have only 50 scouts worldwide.
Whilst I would guess that the majority are in the UK, that wouldn't provide enough cover for each League and Premier game on a Saturday.
So, unless OUFC have contracted TNS to look solely at OUFC opponents, which doesn't apear to be a service TNS offers, any benefit OUFC might gain, would be limited to possible player signings from the Leagues and Premier League.
IF that is the case, TNS would certainly not appear to be an adequate replacement for internal scouts.
And at £94 per report you might just wonder quite what savings there are to be made, versus the loss of dedicated information.
I reckon there are say 50 of these free-lance scouts dotted around the country. If the club wants info on a team which is impractical to go to yourself, one of their scouts does it for you and reports back in a standardised professional format. For £80 as the club will claim back the VAT.
For a typical opponent 100 miles away, for an in-house scout to go I'd imagine would cost say 200 x40p = £80 mileage, ticket £10 min, fee of £30 say? = £120. An overnight stay? Think of the away games you go to and how much of a Saturday that takes up and how much it costs in total.
Presumably TSN makes it money by using a local scout, has perhaps negotiated a free ticket, fee of £30 or £50, plus their mark-up of £30 or so.
Anyway, presumably all departments have been told to cut costs, and for the backroom staff, it seems we can't afford the luxury of a chief-scout, have to combine kitman and masseur, but will be getting someone in on fitness.