Football FanCast columnist Jim McKendry is baffled as to why clubs feel the need to appoint a Director of Football.

If there is one role within the beautiful game that needs to be defined, then it has to be that of the Director of football. What is their role? What are their duties and more importantly why does it always seem to end in tears?

In theory it makes perfect sense. It provides continuity, takes workload of the manager and provides that bridge between the board and the playing staff. In reality it turns, more often or not, into a walking disaster especially if the Director of Football and manager don't get on or have a differing of opinion.

I was always under the impression that their duty was simply to go out and get the players that have been cited by the manager. Sure they were there to offer guidance and recommend players but subsequently the final decision lay with the coach. In most given cases this is not normally the case and their presence around the football club is about as welcome, to a manager, as a fart in an elevator.

You can provide a list as long as your arm of managers who have been put out by the introduction of a Director of Football. Harry Redknapp didn't take kindly to Sir Clive Woodward; it is fair to say Damien Comolli will not be sharing season greetings with Martin Jol, while the introduction of Avram Grant was the straw that really broke the camel's back for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. So why are we so intent in conforming to a continental approach?

If there is something that always amazes me is that we look to the continents to rectify our own failings. Should it be the international set-up, coaching techniques, they always become our country's guru. It really makes no sense and what I find extremely baffling is that the three most successful teams in the country, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United all operate without them. Surely club chairman don't need any more proof than that?

Players join football clubs for the manager and that is why he should be the ones conducting transfers. If you were a footballer who would you rather negotiate with, Dennis Wise or Kevin Keegan, Damien Comolli or Juande Ramos? It seems pretty transparent to me.

I have never seen this system work at a football club in this country and I don't expect it to start now.