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Aston Villa have got rid of seven members of their scouting staff in the first major change since new owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens arrived, reports the Daily Mail.

The new regime plan to put their own stamp on Villa's transfer dealings and several members of staff have been let go including Tommy Mooney, who had been acting as Villa's loans manager.

Six other scouts have been let go but the highest profile departure is Ian Atkins, who was brought to the club by former technical director Steve Round in 2016.

Atkins joined Villa as chief scout and put names to manager Steve Bruce and the hierarchy ahead of transfer windows.

Round, who left Villa over the summer along with former CEO Keith Wyness, recruited several scouts to keep track of targets across the globe.

Three more of those scouts have been deemed surplus to requirements at Villa Park whilst scout co-ordinators John Harrower and Mark Britland have also been let go.

It’s thought Villa are on the hunt for a new sporting director as they reshape their scouting system.