Burnley have appointed Diego Lopez as their new chief football officer with responsibility for football operations, recruitment and sporting structure - and the search for a new manager.
The 37-year-old Spaniard joins from Serie A side Genoa, where he held the same role and follows the club parting company with former manager Nicky Hayen following a damaging 4-1 defeat against Lincoln City on Saturday.
Lopez, 37, joins with the Clarets in 22nd in the Championship after a dismal start to the season in which they have won just one game in 12.
Club chairman Alan Pace told the club website Lopez's appointment was about raising standards across the football club.
"We wanted someone with deep experience in recruitment and player development, a strong knowledge of European markets and a clear understanding of how those come together to strengthen a club over the long term," Pace said.
"Diego has a proven record of exactly that."
Hayen won the Belgian title with Club Brugge in 2024 and was brought in by Pace to oversee a promotion bid following Premier League relegation last season.
Yet after a promising draw with West Ham on the opening weekend, their season has nosedived and the club are without a win at home in the league since beating Leeds United at Turf Moor in the Premier League over a year ago.
Lopez has previously worked as a head scout at Monaco, Lille, Excelsior Mouscron and Bordeaux, while he also held a director of sport role at RC Lens.
The appointment is understood to have been in the pipeline for some time given he left Genoa at the start of October.
"I am eager to start exploring the great potential of this club," said Lopez. "I understand our mission and I believe in what Burnley can become in the coming years, if we all work in the same direction with full determination.
"From my first conversations with Alan, it was clear there is real ambition here and a plan to match it."