Chelsea’s head of international scouting Scott McLachlan has left the club after 11 years.
McLachlan is departing for a new challenge and set to take on a high-level role elsewhere in football after a period of gardening leave.
He had decided to move on before Chelsea’s ownership issues and takeover though stayed on to help the club’s new owners through the initial transition period following their purchase and their first transfer window. The sanctions placed on Chelsea also delayed his exit.
The respected McLachlan is understood to be leaving with the blessing of the new owners and best wishes of those he will leave behind and after being a key figure in the club’s recruitment during a period when they have won every major honour, including some twice.
Before joining Chelsea in 2011, McLachlan had worked as a technical scout at Fulham and also been a performance analysis at Southampton.
McLachlan is the latest pivotal member of Chelsea’s recruitment process to leave since the club’s Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital after director Marina Granovskaia and technical performance advisor Petr Cech. McLachlan’s departure is understood to be his decision.
Hands-on Boehly took charge of Chelsea’s recruitment as interim sporting director during the summer with manager Thomas Tuchel handed an increased say, the window closing with the Stamford Bridge club having embarked on a Premier League record spree of around £270m.
They have held talks with potential candidates for a new sporting director as they look to rebuild their department in charge of transfers and scouting.
Asked about that search, Tuchel said: ‘I'm not involved in that, I have to say. I am so, so happy. I had the feeling for one-and-a-half days, I shifted back to 100% being a coach, which I enjoy a lot and where my full energy will go from now on.
‘We need that energy going into the team. It's a very complex situation with sporting directors and which role they have. They are very different in different countries and clubs.
"It's no secret that I loved to work with Petr [Cech]. The communication and having this kind of legend at Cobham, who took care of not only our building but the academy and the culture of the club, was a pure pleasure for me.
It's a big change not to have him, and we're still adapting. I am not actively involved in the search or building of a new structure. I'm not so sure it is my job.’