Steve Hopcroft has rejected the chance to join Manchester United as their chief talent spotter and instead signed a new contract with West Bromwich Albion.
The Red Devils are in the process of revamping their academy setup and are understood to have been tracking Hopcroft for some time.
Having reportedly been offered superior wages to remain in the West Midlands, Hopcroft - who has been in place at Albion for more than a decade - has instead agreed to extend his current terms at The Hawthorns in order to continue his ongoing project.
"I'm absolutely delighted to be staying," he is quoted as saying by the Birmingham Mail. "I've had interest to leave in the past and I've always felt that maybe the grass isn't greener on the other side. I've been here for 12 years and there has been a great deal of work put in to get the club to the point where it is now playing quality academy graduates in the first team.
"It's really refreshing and rewarding. When you sign a boy at six, seven or eight years of age, it's fantastic to see them come through the age groups and play in the first team. There are players in our younger age groups that remind us of Sam Field and Kane Wilson. Their journey is only just beginning and it might be ten years before they play for them to come through and hopefully I'm here to see them through.
"It's our aim to recruit players who can play in our first team that live within an hour of The Hawthorns. We're managing to do that now and I'd imagine we will have continued success because we've got a good model. The great thing about this club is that we give opportunities to young players providing they are good enough. Not every club can offer that."
United's former head of recruitment Derek Langley departed United in July after more than 16 years at the club.
