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Chief scout Bobby Roberts will no longer be employed to do reports on United's opponents

Oxford United manager Darren Patterson has instigated a number of staff changes at the club for what will be his first full season in charge.

Among them are some small backroom alterations and the move to a different scouting system involving 'The Scouting Network' company.

Chief scout Bobby Roberts, initially brought in by former boss Jim Smith, will no longer be employed to do scouting reports on United's opposition, although he may get occasional requests to look at individual players.

And kit man Paul Sullivan has been replaced, with his work being undertaken by Lindsay Davis, who will double up as kit man and the team's masseur.

Patterson says he is also very close to appointing a new conditioning coach.

Youth development officer Les Taylor will continue to take the kids, coaching through the week and taking the youth team at weekends.

And this will free Patterson's No 2, Mickey Lewis, to concentrate fully on his work as first-team coach.

The change in former Derby County scout Roberts's role does not come as a surprise as Patterson was tending to use his own scouts and contacts more and more anyway.

Roberts, 67, said: "I've spoken to Darren, and spoken also with Jim, and they've said one or two things that are changing, but I've got to wait and see exactly what it means.

"I've had a great time working with Oxford United. During the last couple of years I've recommended quite a few players, but it's not always been possible for them to sign them, sometimes for financial reasons, sometimes for other reasons.

"But I wish them well. I would love to see Oxford back where they belong, which is back in the League."

The changes show how Patterson is developing his own backroom team.

He said: "I've got an excellent staff. I sat down with them and explained what I'm looking to do.

"We're just tightening up on everything. Every single member of the staff now has his own job description and is under no illusions about what is expected of him."

He added: "The Scouting Network are extremely professional and cover not just England but Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and abroad, though that's not so relevant to us at the moment.

"But they are used by about two-thirds of Football League clubs. We'll be the only non-League club using them, I believe."

The Network, based at Alvechurch, near Birmingham, has been in existence for three and a half years, and is expanding every month.

Said managing director Derek Bragg: "We're currently employed by 42 Football League clubs, and also quite a few in the Premiership.

"As well as doing full scouting reports on clubs' opponents, we also provide them with a UK database where they have access to all our information on players."

8:00am Tuesday 20th May 2008

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