Arsenal axe EIGHT members of staff including head of youth scouting Steve Morrow in major academy shake-up
ARSENAL have reportedly axed EIGHT members of staff including head of youth scouting Steve Morrow in a major academy shake-up.
Morrow, who played and scored in the 1993 League Cup final-winning team, ends a 20-year association with the North Londoners across two spells, both playing and coaching.
It comes as Unai Emery’s side enter a critical stage of their season.
There has been talk of unrest with players divided over the way £350,000-a-week midfielder Mesut Ozil has been ostracised by the boss.
Results on the pitch have sunk, with a shock defeat at Sheffield United and last weekend’s disappointing draw at home to Wolves – with Emery told he has a month to save his job.
This has all been compounded by the saga over skipper Granit Xhaki.
He was left out on Saturday following his row with Arsenal fans when he told them to “f*** off” after he was substituted in the dire 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
And now a shake-up off the pitch has started with eight staff members axed.
Morrow was famously dropped by Tony Adams after scoring in the League Cup final win over Sheffield Wednesday in 1993, breaking an arm.
Former Chelsea player Dave Lee, Kevin Beadell and Dan Rice are all believed to have got the bullet.
They had recruitment roles with the Gunners.
The club appointed former centre-half Per Mertesacker as head of the academy last year.
It is not yet known what his role in the departures has been.
The club have yet to confirmed.
Arsenal have not yet commented on the numbers or who exactly is to go.
Meanwhile, Emery is set to appoint Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as permanent captain, replacing Xhaka.