Mike Reid gives his insight in to the running of the club behind the scenes...
I’ll start by giving some background to my role here at CCFC. My title is Technical Operations and I am based at the training ground in Ryton.
The role includes assisting Mark Venus in his capacity as Technical Director and supporting Vicki Gough who is the Chief Operating Officer.
I have been with Coventry City since 2010 in a number of different roles, including part time as a scout and full-time in the Academy Secretary role. This included co-ordinating the logistical side of the Academy for the Premier League games programme for players in the U9 to U21 age groups. It also included liaison with The Premier League, Football League and Football Association on player registration and organisation of games.
Prior to my role at CCFC, I worked in local government but decided football was to be my chosen career change. I had always been interested in football and sport in general and the switch was eventually encouraged by the award of the 2012 Olympics back in 2005. The London Olympics was the catalyst for the country’s push for sporting excellence and made me think that I would like to be a part of that journey.
I got involved in coaching grassroots and local club football, whilst studying for my FA coaching awards and now hold a UEFA B Licence. My work with the Technical Director includes background checks, recording and reporting on potential players and supporting the day to day operations of the Football Club scouting and recruitment system.
It also includes supporting him on the financial monitoring of the Football Department, whether that be the recording and tracking of player costs or any other costs that are connected with the First Team or Under 21 games programme.
After my move to Ryton last summer I also became responsible for reporting the whereabouts of our players to the FA. This is part of the FA’s Anti-Doping rules. Whenever a player is absent from a scheduled squad training session, we must notify The FA and ensure the player’s whereabouts are known at all times.
I have always had an interest in Youth Development in English Football and hope to maintain my link with the Academy in the future. It has been particularly rewarding working for the Football Club to watch young players transition through the age groups.
The Academy and the Football Club in general gives talented players the chance to develop and reach their playing potential and hopefully progress on to our first team, or the first team of other professional clubs. There is nothing better as both a supporter and employee of Coventry City FC to see a player who has been with us for a long time make his first team debut. PUSB.