Jamestown Analytics has been described as a potential game-changer for Hearts and it is easy to see why.
Brighton have been transformed for a lower league club to one of the best in the Premier League while using Tony Bloom’s firm while Belgians Union Saint-Gilloise have been on a similar trajectory and now challenge for honours.
Hearts announced their deal with Jamestown Analytics which will enable them to use their data system for recruitment and opposition analysis.
While they remain in talks with Brighton owner Bloom over potential investment which could see him become a minority shareholder.
The Jambos are in need of reinforcements in January and fans will be hoping they can unearth some gems using the data.
Critchley explains Hearts benefits
Hearts manager Neil Critchley is used to working with data software having used a different system while at Liverpool working as a youth coach.
He is looking forward to getting to grips with Jamestown and implementing it to help his current club across many different facets.
Critchley said: “It means that we can use their knowledge and expertise in terms of how we prepare for games, opposition analysis, how we benchmark our own performances post-match and also for recruitment, which we’re hoping will be really beneficial to us.
“It’s quite exciting. I’m used to working with analytics and data before. I know how it can help and what a big aid it can be. It’s a big announcement, fantastic for the football club and hopefully it plays a big part in what we do and our processes working forward. At Liverpool it still is a huge thing.
“Where Brighton were and where they are now is incredible. If you look at the clubs that his company has been involved with, they’ve all progressed and taken steps forward.
“It’s not just about recruitment, you’ve also got many other things right as well. Your facilities, your environment, your staffing, it plays a part, an important part.
“It’s not everything, it’s not the be-all-and-end-all, but it also can give you maybe an advantage in certain areas of your daily working life, your processes, which you hope will benefit the club in the future.”
Hearts have already been using Jamestown Analytics
Even ahead of the announcement of the deal, Hearts have been allowed access to the Jamestown Analytics software.
They actually used it in the process they went through to hire Critchley as Steven Naismith’s replacement in the head coach position.
But he has revealed they have been using it in other areas since he came in, including looking at recruitment.
Those efforts will now intensify after the arrival of sporting director Graeme Jones at Tynecastle and as January gets closer.
Critchley added: “It’s played a part in preparation for games and it’s also playing a part which will become more prevalent in the next few week.
“With Graeme starting on Monday, those conversations will become much more frequent ready for January. But yes, it has been playing a part in identification of players for January and beyond.
!I can’t go into that in too much detail, it’s not what’s inside, but yes, it has been so far.”