WANDERERS’ search for a new sporting director is moving apace and Steven Schumacher is confident the club will find the right person for the job.

Chris Markham’s exit was confirmed a week ago and it is understood the process of finding his replacement is now well underway.

Schumacher admits the timing of the decision – made a few weeks after the close of the January window – means the impact on his own transfer planning has been kept to a minimum.

“At this moment in time it hasn’t been too bad,” he explained. “That's because the window has ended and we have had games to focus on, so for my day-to-day work there hasn’t been too much disruption.

“Going through the interview process and meeting with Chris was good, I can honestly say that I was impressed with what he did. I know that Sharon has said in the statement that the work Chris has done over the last four years since he has been here has been exceptional, so we wish him all the best in the future.

“I have spoken to Sharon (Brittan) and Nick (Luckock) about the appointment of a new sporting director and they assure me that the person coming in will be the best one for the job.

“As you would expect with Sharon and Nick they don’t get many decisions wrong, so I am sure the new technical director coming in will do a brilliant job as well.”

The director of football role is a relatively new one at Wanderers. During Sammy Lee’s brief reign as manager in 2007 former Liverpool chief scout Frank McParland was installed as general manager but an equivalent did not come along for another dozen years until Football Ventures brought in Tobias Phoenix as the head of football operations midway through the 2019/20 season.

Markham replaced Phoenix at the start of 2021, initially as the head of technical performance and later as sporting director, and a new candidate is expected to be appointed in a very similar role.

Schumacher has worked in a similar structure at both Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City and believes the modern football manager does need a support network.

“I don’t think there will be too many clubs at this level, certainly in the Championship and definitely at Premier League who won’t have someone in that role,” he told The Bolton News.

“It’s just the way it is now. Clubs are so big, there are so many different departments, an old-school or old-fashioned manager just can’t handle it all, there is just too much going on.

“Working with a director of football is quite common practice but also it can be good for someone like myself because you can delegate different responsibilities and learn from people who have had different experiences and see things from a different angle than I do.

“It is a role I'm used to, I'm accustomed to, and I’m sure the next appointment that we make will work.

“The relationship is one where we trust each other, we talk and we work together to try and achieve what we want to achieve, so I’m looking forward to seeing what happens now.”