SHEFFIELD UNITED are turning to an Anglo-American AI talent spotting company to find new players — and that will mean the axe for top scouts
The Blades are now under American ownership, who plan to run all targets through the databanks and computerised systems of a super-spy company.
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Insiders reveal Las Vegas-based, London-born James Bord is the middleman involved in finding players, hopefully for the Premier League next season.
Bord made a fortune as a poker player before shifting his focus to the computer world, where his companies and ideas have thrived in several fields.
Blades boss Chris Wilder signed several players for the promotion push and most were found by the old-fashioned way.
However, the Yank owners are convinced that the new methods are the Blades’ future.
And insiders reveal that a couple of January signings were also double-checked for approval by this outfit.
United also brought in a couple of young players from abroad in discoveries made by a San Francisco company called shortcircuit.science.
Both Bord and business partner Evan Sofer are also the new owners of Scottish club Dunfermline through a company they set up called Park Bench.
Links have already been forged between United and the Pars, with the two clubs pushing through a loan deal for Blades midfielder Owen Hampson.
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If United make the Prem via the play-offs they will be relying heavily on finding the next signings by their new analytic allies.
In the meantime, their own scouts could be reduced or made redundant as a result.
Bord’s relationship with United could also grow.
He wants to have a stake in an English club and they are firmly in his sights.
He already has an interest in Spanish side Cordoba and an outfit in Bulgaria, too.
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