SlowerThanPlatt
Well-Known Member
Mark Venus has reviewed his first four months with the Sky Blues following the transfer window...
Having settled into his new role as Technical Director, Mark Venus is proud of the work he and his team has accomplished in his first four months.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town defender joined the club in the summer taking on the role of Technical Director as part of Tony Mowbray's staff.
It was a role which didn't previously exist at the club with Venus' main responsibility to overlook the football operation and build a recruitment network across the country and beyond for the Sky Blues.
Reviewing his first four months at the club, Venus is proud of the relationships the club has already made with other football clubs as well as his relationship with the club's owners.
City's Technical Director said: "It's been a new role for me and I've gone about it in a way that I felt was the right way to do it.
"I'm pretty pleased with some of the things which have happened, especially some of the relationships we've built up with other football clubs who are willing to let their young talent come to Coventry.
"I've also had a good relationship with the owners and the people who run the football club. I feel that they've took me on board since the first minute and allowed me to get on with the job.
"It's a test working with the budget but it's definitely enjoyable. I think it's something I really enjoy to be honest and I can get a lot out of it. We've got to try and put the best football team on the pitch within the perimeters we've been set."
As part of his role, Venus helped bring back Ray Gooding to the club as a scout, who had previously worked at the club's Academy and before that, Centre of Excellence.
With Ray also being a former City player, Venus stressed the importance of bringing people into the club who care about the Sky Blues.
He continued: "When the previous manager left, the scouting structure did as well so we started this season without any scouts at all. I've put a system in where we've got a set of scouts who can cover as much grass as possible for us.
"Also, I want to sell the football club back to the people who've worked here or support the football club. We were delighted to bring back Ray Gooding who is a good man, a Coventry City man and those people are important."
During the summer, the club made several high profile loan signings, Ryan Kent from Liverpool and Adam Armstrong from Newcastle United, despite interest from Championship clubs.
Venus believes other clubs place a lot of trust in City boss Mowbray to get the right players but has also stressed how important the crowds are in getting the players into the club.
Venus added: "I think a lot of people in football have a lot of respect for Tony and Me so when they send their players here, they know they're going to be in good hands.
"The way Tony's teams play is also a big attraction as we'll always try and play the way their first-teams would play. Bottom line is that those clubs know their players will get the right experience here.
"We've got a business plan and the more the crowds come in, the more money we get to play with and put on the field so it's been great to see the crowds come and watch and we really do appreciate it.
"We hope they keep coming and keep turning up as the money will come to us in the end and will make us a better team, pushing up and out of the league".
The Sky Blues have enjoyed a brilliant start to the season after a carefully structured recruitment process throughout the summer as City aim for a promotion push.
Venus, who has now been at the club for four months, wants City to become a big club once again and hopes to sign players which are beyond League One level.
Venus said: "We want to build a football club. From my point of view, having been in the club and listening to supporters, everyone is sick of 'the cuts, the cuts, the cuts'.
"Speaking openly and honestly, we've got to start growing again and become a big football club in this league, and beyond. We need to behave like a big club again.
"Sign players who are far too good for this level of the game and we've got to make people believe that we're growing again. We are coming again but it's going to take a little bit of time.
With the transfer window over, Venus has continued to work on improving all aspects of the football department and continues to deal with agents.
He continued: "I've got lots of other responsibilities within the football department. I have to deal with the scouting and recruitment department and that is still growing.
"I'd like to think we can improve our scouting department further. Meeting other football clubs is a continuing process as well and dealing with agents which is draining. They all have the best players who they try get you to sign so you've got to shift through that and see who we'd really want to sign.
"Invariably, I watch a lot of games as well. Taking in teams and players and building up that network and knowledge base which the club can count on in the future.
Modern football scouting networks often rely on videos and recordings, but Venus has has there is no better equivalent than watching football live.
Venus added: "You have to go watch the players live, no doubt. Television recordings and footage can help profile a footballer but I don't think there is any substitute than watching someone live.
"We need to develop a system where our staff and scouts are all plugging in and giving their opinion to the manager who will then make the decision on players with everyone's knowledge considered."
Having settled into his new role as Technical Director, Mark Venus is proud of the work he and his team has accomplished in his first four months.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town defender joined the club in the summer taking on the role of Technical Director as part of Tony Mowbray's staff.
It was a role which didn't previously exist at the club with Venus' main responsibility to overlook the football operation and build a recruitment network across the country and beyond for the Sky Blues.
Reviewing his first four months at the club, Venus is proud of the relationships the club has already made with other football clubs as well as his relationship with the club's owners.
City's Technical Director said: "It's been a new role for me and I've gone about it in a way that I felt was the right way to do it.
"I'm pretty pleased with some of the things which have happened, especially some of the relationships we've built up with other football clubs who are willing to let their young talent come to Coventry.
"I've also had a good relationship with the owners and the people who run the football club. I feel that they've took me on board since the first minute and allowed me to get on with the job.
"It's a test working with the budget but it's definitely enjoyable. I think it's something I really enjoy to be honest and I can get a lot out of it. We've got to try and put the best football team on the pitch within the perimeters we've been set."
As part of his role, Venus helped bring back Ray Gooding to the club as a scout, who had previously worked at the club's Academy and before that, Centre of Excellence.
With Ray also being a former City player, Venus stressed the importance of bringing people into the club who care about the Sky Blues.
He continued: "When the previous manager left, the scouting structure did as well so we started this season without any scouts at all. I've put a system in where we've got a set of scouts who can cover as much grass as possible for us.
"Also, I want to sell the football club back to the people who've worked here or support the football club. We were delighted to bring back Ray Gooding who is a good man, a Coventry City man and those people are important."
During the summer, the club made several high profile loan signings, Ryan Kent from Liverpool and Adam Armstrong from Newcastle United, despite interest from Championship clubs.
Venus believes other clubs place a lot of trust in City boss Mowbray to get the right players but has also stressed how important the crowds are in getting the players into the club.
Venus added: "I think a lot of people in football have a lot of respect for Tony and Me so when they send their players here, they know they're going to be in good hands.
"The way Tony's teams play is also a big attraction as we'll always try and play the way their first-teams would play. Bottom line is that those clubs know their players will get the right experience here.
"We've got a business plan and the more the crowds come in, the more money we get to play with and put on the field so it's been great to see the crowds come and watch and we really do appreciate it.
"We hope they keep coming and keep turning up as the money will come to us in the end and will make us a better team, pushing up and out of the league".
The Sky Blues have enjoyed a brilliant start to the season after a carefully structured recruitment process throughout the summer as City aim for a promotion push.
Venus, who has now been at the club for four months, wants City to become a big club once again and hopes to sign players which are beyond League One level.
Venus said: "We want to build a football club. From my point of view, having been in the club and listening to supporters, everyone is sick of 'the cuts, the cuts, the cuts'.
"Speaking openly and honestly, we've got to start growing again and become a big football club in this league, and beyond. We need to behave like a big club again.
"Sign players who are far too good for this level of the game and we've got to make people believe that we're growing again. We are coming again but it's going to take a little bit of time.
With the transfer window over, Venus has continued to work on improving all aspects of the football department and continues to deal with agents.
He continued: "I've got lots of other responsibilities within the football department. I have to deal with the scouting and recruitment department and that is still growing.
"I'd like to think we can improve our scouting department further. Meeting other football clubs is a continuing process as well and dealing with agents which is draining. They all have the best players who they try get you to sign so you've got to shift through that and see who we'd really want to sign.
"Invariably, I watch a lot of games as well. Taking in teams and players and building up that network and knowledge base which the club can count on in the future.
Modern football scouting networks often rely on videos and recordings, but Venus has has there is no better equivalent than watching football live.
Venus added: "You have to go watch the players live, no doubt. Television recordings and footage can help profile a footballer but I don't think there is any substitute than watching someone live.
"We need to develop a system where our staff and scouts are all plugging in and giving their opinion to the manager who will then make the decision on players with everyone's knowledge considered."
