Arsenal hero Pat Rice loses his scouting role after 56 years at the club along with Stewart Houston

Arsenal’s ruthless cull continues: Pat Rice loses his scouting role after 56 years at the club and former assistant manager Stewart Houston joins him on scrapheap as behind-the-scenes restructuring rumbles on

  • Pat Rice – an ex-player and assistant to Arsene Wenger – is departing Arsenal
  • He leave with Stewart Houston, another former assistant and caretaker manager
  • Arsenal are restructuring their scouting department amid 55 redundancies  

Pat Rice and Stewart Houston’s long and storied association with Arsenal is coming to an end as part of the club’s behind-the-scenes restructuring.

According to The Athletic, Rice is no longer needed in his role as a video scout, bringing the curtain down on a 56-year association with the Gunners.

Houston, who was also working as a scout but has also served as Arsenal’s assistant manager alongside George Graham as well as caretaker manager on three occasions.

Pat Rice’s 56-year association with Arsenal is over after losing his position as a scout

Rice played for Arsenal 528 times as a player - he first joined as an apprentice in 1964

Rice played for Arsenal 528 times as a player – he first joined as an apprentice in 1964

Stewart Houston, who was George Graham's assistant manager, also departs his scouting role

Stewart Houston, who was George Graham’s assistant manager, also departs his scouting role

Rice played for Arsenal 528 times after joining as an apprentice in 1964 before serving as Arsene Wenger’s assistant manager for 16 years. He helped oversee an Arsenal side that won three Premier Leagues and four FA Cups.

It is believed Rice will continue to be involved in an ambassadorial capacity. 

The duo, both 71, are departing the club amid 55 redundancies at Arsenal as they count the cost of the coronavirus impact. 

Head of football Raul Sanllehi was a shock departure, announced earlier this week, but it appears for the most part that Arsenal’s scouting network is being trimmed down.

Head of international scouting Francis Cagigao, head of UK scouting Peter Clark and former Reading and Leeds United manager Brian McDermott – who also played for Arsenal – have gone.

Rice, 71, is expected to still be involved at Arsenal in an ambassadorial capacity

Rice, 71, is expected to still be involved at Arsenal in an ambassadorial capacity

Arsenal announced  the exit of their head of football Raul Sanllehi earlier this week

Arsenal announced  the exit of their head of football Raul Sanllehi earlier this week

Francis Cagigao had been another shock departure due to Arsenal's coronavirus cost-cutting

Francis Cagigao had been another shock departure due to Arsenal’s coronavirus cost-cutting 

Cesc Fabregas has paid a glowing tribute to outgoing Arsenal scout Cagigao on Twitter

Cesc Fabregas has paid a glowing tribute to outgoing Arsenal scout Cagigao on Twitter

Cagigao was the scout who unearthed Cesc Fabregas, as well present day talents such as Gabriel Martinelli and Hector Bellerin, and the former Arsenal midfielder paid a glowing tribute upon the news of his exit.

He wrote on Twitter: ‘Thank you for the 24+ years of devotion, respect, loyalty and love you gave to @Arsenal. Nothing would have been the same for me if you didn’t spot me at 15 years old. I wish you all the very best for the future. Your next team will be very lucky to have your football brain.’

Yet amid the offield upheaval, Arsenal’s transfer plans remain unchanged and Mikel Arteta plows on with his rebuild.

But the club have fallen under intensifying scrutiny as 55 people lose their jobs while a £220,000-a-week, three-year deal is handed out to Willian, who is 32.

The club are also locked in talks with star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and if they get him to sign a new contract, he will almost certainly see a raise on his present terms of £200,000-a-week.

Willian recently joined Arsenal in a £220,000-a-week, three-year deal after leaving Chelsea

Willian recently joined Arsenal in a £220,000-a-week, three-year deal after leaving Chelsea

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will get a rise on his £200,000-a-week deal if he signs new terms

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will get a rise on his £200,000-a-week deal if he signs new terms

Mesut Ozil, who earns £300,000-a-week at Arsenal, did not agree to an April pay cut

Mesut Ozil, who earns £300,000-a-week at Arsenal, did not agree to an April pay cut

Arsenal are also looking to sign defender Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille, and that potential transfer has a mooted fee of £22million.

And the job losses come after Arteta instigated a 12.5 per cent pay cut for the majority of the Arsenal squad back in April amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Mesut Ozil, who earns £300,000-a-week at Arsenal, did not agree to take a pay cut. 



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