SAINTS have unveiled David Burke as their new scouting and talent identification manager.

The 47-year-old has moved from Premier League giants Manchester City, where he was responsible for talent identification in London, the south east and Europe.

He is the first senior appointment to the new football development and support centre at Staplewood since Les Reed was announced as its executive director.

In a statement released this morning, Saints said Burke would be "responsible for providing comprehensive talent coverage across all player age groups, both domestically and internationally.

"This will also involve building carefully structured scouting networks and databases to provide a more reliable reporting structure for the first team manager through to the academy managers."

Burke said it had been a tough decision to leave Manchester City for Saints, but he believed it was the right move.

He said: "I am delighted to have been offered the opportunity to work for Southampton FC in what is an exciting era for the club.

"It is not an easy decision to leave an ambitious and thriving Premier League club but after meeting the chairman and experiencing his enthusiasm and commitment to the long term future of the club, I had no hesitation in deciding to leave the excellent recruitment department at Manchester City.

"The challenge of developing a department with a long-term scouting and talent identification plan is the main attraction.

"To have the opportunity to break new ground and develop new methods in order to increase the number of home grown players into the first team squad is one that I will embrace.

"Anybody who is aware of the vision for Southampton FC would relish the opportunity to become involved in this project."

Football development and support centre chief Reed said: "I have worked with David before and know that he is a top professional in talent identification, which is a key area for us.

"I very much welcome him to the centre, where I believe he will make a very important contribution."

Saints chairman Nicola Cortese said: "I am very pleased that our initial senior recruitments into the centre are of such high calibre and are professionals with particularly strong track records in the development side of football.

"After the appointment of Les Reed, David Burke is the second senior person to join the football development and support centre and it proves that despite following a different route from the traditional way, it shows initial success to attract these senior people who stand for great quality and development.

"I am pleased that the progress within the football development and support centre is quicker than anticipated and there is more to follow."

Burke holds a UEFA 'A' coaching licence and was head of scouting and recruitment at Fulham, prior to joining City.

Burke also used to be a senior football coach at the Aspire Academy for Sporting Excellence in Qatar, as well as for the Qatar Under-16 side.