Arsenal refuse to rush Edu replacement process as sporting director search begins | OneFootball

Gunners confident the structure they have in place will function while a fresh appointment is found

The Brazilian stepped down from his post on Monday and is set to take up a wider role working for Nottingham Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, and his growing network of clubs.

Edu said his goodbyes to Arsenal players and staff at the club’s training ground on Tuesday, and he is now serving a six-month period of gardening leave.

Arsenal are confident in the structure they have in place and that it will function well while they search for a successor to Edu.

Jason Ayto, Arsenal’s assistant sporting director, will step up in the interim and work alongside managing director, Richard Garlick, and executive vice-chair, Tim Lewis. James King will begin working as director of football operations next week.

Arsenal executives are flying to the US next week to meet with the club’s owners, the Kroenke family. The meeting had been arranged before Edu’s resignation, but it is now ideally timed.

Edu’s successor will, naturally, be a point of discussion but talks will also take place regarding the next two transfer window and the summer’s pre-season tour.

Arsenal are currently drawing up a list of criteria for the role and a recruitment company will be on hand to filter through initial candidates if needed.

Garlick and Lewis will lead the process of finding a new sporting director - but manager Mikel Arteta will have an input. Garlick has experience of searching and hiring sporting directors from his time at West Brom. Arsenal's owners, the Kroenke family, will have the final sign-off and say on who is appointed sporting director.

The role is likely to receive a wealth of applicants given Arsenal’s rise in recent years.

Arsenal will not rush the process, though, and the focus will be on finding the right person to fit into what has proved a slick operation at executive level in recent years.

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