Crystal Palace losing scout Chris Jones to Championship side Middlesbrough will be a blow, according to The Sun journalist Tom Barclay.

Jones has left the Eagles to take up a head of scouting role at the Riverside Stadium.

What’s the latest on Jones?

According to Dominic Fifield, Middlesbrough's search for a head of scouting has ended after securing the addition of Jones, with the former Palace man having had previous stints at sides such as Wolverhampton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town, Leeds United, and Norwich City.

The same report says that Middlesbrough’s head of football Kieran Scott will be looking for another senior figure to work alongside Jones at the Championship club.

Jones arrived at Palace in 2021 from Norwich and worked as a UK and international scout, and helped successfully rebuild the Palace squad that summer, helping Patrick Vieira achieve a 12^th-placed Premier League finish last season.

And Barclay believes that whilst Jones is moving from a Premier League to a Championship club, it’s still a career progression move for the former scout.

What has Barclay said about Jones?

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Yeah, he's going, and yeah, it's a blow.

“He's one of quite a few scouts at Palace and I think his role at Middlesbrough is going to be head of scouting.

“So, it's effectively a promotion.

“So, you can see why he would be open to doing that. 

“Obviously, it’s a Championship club compared to the Premier League, but like I say, it’s a career progression for Chris.

“He was one of many scouts at Palace. 

“So, you know, they've got other scouts doing different things.

“But it's good for him really, from a career progression point of view, and hopefully it can help Middlesbrough build from where they are.”

What next for Palace?

Jones’ departure will be a blow for Palace, who will now need to find a way of replacing his knowledge in the scouting department behind the scenes.

The former scout has been part of three transfer windows at the south London club, signing a total of 14 players across both 2021 and 2022, suggesting that the club could not have asked anymore of him over his short time working at Selhurst Park.

Therefore, Palace will have to think carefully about appointing Jones recruitment, with his replacement needing to have the same broad knowledge of players across the UK and Europe in order for them to be able to recruit in the same effective manner as they have over the previous two seasons.