Arsenal chief LEAVES after just seven months in job as emotional statement drops

Arsenal technical director James Ellis has left the Premier League leaders after sharing a statement on social media. Ellis leaves just short of five years after joining the north London club from Fulham , where he was a senior scout.

The lifelong Arsenal fan joined his boyhood in the same role, reporting to the club's technical director, then Edu Gaspar. Two years later, Ellis became head of recruitment, again answering to Edu, who was by now the club's first sporting director.

After Edu's resignation last year, he moved into the technical director position. Ellis filled the role he once reported to.

Addressing his departure, Ellis shared a lengthy post on LinkedIn. It begins: "Time to take the next step…

Sport is a wonderful sector to work in, and I am very, very lucky to have worked in the industry for 25 plus years. My journey in sport, from participation, rejection, education, coaching, scouting and senior leadership has made me who I am, and I owe this exposure to so many people along the way.

"I have been fortunate enough to work and contribute to some outstanding sporting organisations, in the UK and abroad, in high-performance and the football industry (non-league through to elite-level Premier League Clubs), which I hope, in a small way, I have left in a better position than when I started.

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"I recently departed Arsenal Football Club, where in nearly five years I gave my all in an attempt to help contribute to supporting the development of elite level club and its high-performance environment. The most notable memory of my time there was coming across a number of wonderful people who (from various backgrounds and various levels of expertise), saw the world of opportunity, responsibility, custodianship and contribution the same as I do. I would like to wish the club the very best for the future.

"Thank you to everyone who has so far in my career, helped shape me, learn so much, and helped me find a course that supports my desire to support others, fulfil their potential and support organisations achieve their ambitions. I look forward to the next opportunity to continue to do so."