IRFAN Kawri has revealed the reasons behind his departure as Wanderers’ head of recruitment.

The Bolton-born coach was installed by Keith Hill in December with a brief to improve relationships between the club and grassroots teams in the town.

He also helped to draw up a list of potential signings for the previous transfer window, and one looking ahead to next season.

But the former Sharples School pupil, who has also worked with QPR, Burton and Wigan Athletic, was told his services would no longer be needed after a shake-up in the club’s recruitment, which saw the instalment of ex-Macclesfield Town chief executive Tobias Phoenix as a liaison between the football department and owners, Football Ventures.

“I was told by Tobias (Phoenix) – Head of Football Operations – that the club was relieving me of my duties,” wrote Kawri on his official Twitter account. “The reason given was a restructure of the football department.

“I was told it was nothing personal and not down to my performance in the role. He said it was just a simple restructure.”

Kawri was appointed amid great fanfare towards the start of Hill’s time as manager, with the club looking to reinforce the ‘Made in Bolton’ mantra and improve links within the town.

His immediate task was to bring local clubs back into the fold and help Wanderers increase the number of local players they brought into the youth system.

And though the plan lasted less than three months – Kawri says his efforts were starting to bear fruit.

“Since joining Bolton I came up with a recruitment plan and strategy working closely with the first team management and club’s executives that included the first team, academy and community trust to work collectively as a club,” he said.

“I believe we were making considerable progress towards bringing community groups, schools/PE teachers and grassroots clubs on board.”

When announced by The Bolton News at the start of March, Kawri’s departure was met with a wave of disappointed messages on social media from football clubs and representatives in the town.

Kawri says he intends to keep in touch with the people he has met in the role.

“Before I took up my role with Bolton Wanderers what really attracted me to the position was the challenge of recruiting the best players in the town to represent BWFC. Being a Bolton lad I am very passionate about the local talent representing BWFC and rising to the challenge of unearthing that talent,” he said.

“I am very passionate about the grassroots community clubs and schools connecting with BWFC where both parties benefit from having a two-fold relationship.

“I would sincerely like to thank everyone who I have had contact with during my short stint for their time and support while representing BWFC. I met some really nice people at the club.

“I met some real passionate, hard-working people from the grassroots clubs who were a pleasure to work with and the work they do in the Bolton community make them the heartbeat of the game.

“Any person I made contact with – if I can help them in any way once this pandemic has finished and kids resume football, I will.

“I hope to keep in touch with grassroots football. Stay safe and look after yourself and your loved ones.”