Stuart Harvey has added a member of Rovers’ backroom team to his recruitment set-up at Sunderland.

Harvey was headhunted by the Black Cats last summer to head up their recruitment team, leaving a similar position at Rovers.

Part of his remit at the Stadium of Light was to restructure and rebuild their recruitment team in the same way he had done at Rovers following his promotion at the club under Tony Mowbray.

Having done so at Rovers, Harvey’s task at Sunderland will see him return to his former club for staff, with the first of those moves now confirmed, adding Matthew Barratt as senior scout.

Barratt spent four-and-a-half years at Rovers, and announced the move on his LinkedIn page.

He wrote: “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as senior scout at Sunderland AFC!

"I leave Blackburn Rovers after 4 and a half years, I've met some top class people there and loved my time at the club. Looking forward to this season and can't wait to get started.”

Harvey could yet move for more Rovers staff, who themselves will likely face another re-shuffle in their recruitment department.

John Park was appointed as Harvey’s successor in July, three months after the Northern Irishman’s move to Sunderland had been confirmed.

Park had previously worked with Mowbray, and his assistant Mark Venus, at Hibs and Celtic.

The trio were reunited at Rovers, but with Mowbray and Venus having now left, Park was expected to follow suit.

He remains in post, but his contract is due to expire next month, leaving Rovers with a decision to make over his future.

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