Manchester United added yet another former Manchester City staffer to their ranks this season after putting Gareth Whalley in charge of loans.
According to sources, we can exclusively reveal that Whalley, who had been the loan co-ordinator at City since 2011 until a recent exit from the club, was recruited by United earlier this season to look after their loans department.
Back in December, United were on the look out for a helping hand when Jonny Evans, who is now part of Michael Carrick’s first-team coaching staff, left his post as head of loans and pathways at United after just six months. Whalley was selected as the man to monitor United’s crop of loanees, helping out on a part-time basis. United sources have stressed that no decision has yet been made about his long-term future at the club.
Whalley was an accomplished player in his day and counts Crewe Alexandra, Bradford City and Cardiff City among his former clubs.
Since stepping into coaching Whalley has had a close relationship with United’s director of football Jason Wilcox, who he worked closely with during the pair’s time at City’s academy, including a spell together running their Under 18s team in 2014.
United have not been shy in recruiting staff from their noisy neighbours having already brought in Wilcox, academy director Stephen Torpey, assistant coach to the Under 21s Alan Wright, and head of academy football development and methodology Darren Hughes. CEO Omar Berrada also arrived from City.
Gareth Whalley, who used to work for Manchester City as loan coordinator, has been fulfilling a similar role for United over the last few months
United have not been shy in recruiting staff from their noisy neighbours having already brought in director of football Jason Wilcox (left) and academy director Stephen Torpey
Manchester United’s Harry Amass has flourished on loan at Sheffield Wednesday this season
Whalley is highly-rated having played a key role behind the scenes at City in overseeing player loans, an area where City have had much better success than United in the past decade.
Sources have described him as a hands-on character with players out on loan and it is a role United have needed a specialist in since Evans stepped down. Where Torpey assumed some of the immediate responsibility following Evans’ exit, Whalley came in to free him up to undertake other director responsibilities.
United enjoyed mixed success with loan players this year with Radek Vitek,…