CHARLOTTE — Charlotte MLS has appointed Bobby Belair as Director of Player Personnel, the club announced Wednesday.
Belair will oversee the team’s Salary Budget, ensuring the inaugural first-team roster is built as efficiently as possible, per Major League Soccer regulations.
Working with Sporting Director Zoran Krneta, Technical Director Marc Nicholls and Director of Scouting Thomas Schaling, Belair will focus on the strategy for player acquisition through all available MLS mechanisms, including the Expansion Draft and Superdraft.
“Building the roster will involve forward-thinking strategies that will make us a competitive and sustainable club,” Belair said. “We will strategize on player recruitment and negotiation while utilizing the array of MLS player acquisition methods to our advantage.”
The former Clemson midfielder, who brings a wealth of experience from his former role as Manager of Player Personnel with Atlanta Utd, will also focus on player relocation.
“It is important for all players and their families to feel welcomed and comfortable in their new home,” Belair said. “We will develop player welfare programs to make sure the players always have what they need off the field, so they can focus on the field.”
Belair will be one of the first points of contact for incoming players, ensuring a smooth transition to their new roles with Charlotte MLS.
“Bobby is a very talented soccer executive, who has a deep understanding of salary cap intricacies, familiarity with the USL player pool, and experience navigating the challenges of the Expansion Draft and Superdraft,” Krneta said. “He is an excellent addition to the Charlotte MLS technical team and will further help us in creating immediate strategic advantages ahead of our 2021 start.”
