Fulham name FA's head of talent Mike Rigg as new chief football officer

Fulham have appointed Football Association talent scout Mike Rigg as their new chief football officer.

The club's owner Shahid Khan has been looking for someone to fill the new role as part of a management restrucure at Craven Cottage.

And Rigg, who has worked as the FA's head of talent ID for a year under its head of elite development Dan Ashworth, has been identified as the right candidate to ease the burden on manager Kit Symonds and chief executive Alistair Mackintosh.

Khan said: "We were not interested in accelerating this organisational shift for Fulham until, or unless, we found the right person. And, we have in Mike Rigg.

"Since 2001, when he led the academy at Sheffield Wednesday, Mike’s ascension in the game of football has been noteworthy: following four seasons at Wednesday, Mike earned the roles of chief scout at Blackburn Rovers, head of player acquisition at Manchester City and technical director at Queens Park Rangers before landing at the FA in 2013.

"As you can see, Mike will bring a very representative and well‑informed point of view to Fulham."

Rigg said: "Over the last 12 months I have been fortunate to work with some of the most inspirational and talented people in football that I have experienced over the last 25 years. 

“I believe the FA - under Dan and Gareth Southgate’s leadership - is on the right path with its plans and philosophy. I genuinely wish them and all of my friends at St. George’s Park and Wembley the best of luck going forward. They can count on my support in my new role at Fulham."

Ashworth said: "We are really sorry to see Mike go but we totally understand his reasons.  It was always likely he would move back into club football at some stage, as this type of role becomes increasingly common within the game."