The Last Mile:
A Precision-Based Approach to Women’s Football Recruitment
In the intelligence world, we didn’t act just because we could. We acted when we were certain—when the risk of inaction was greater than the risk of getting it wrong. The stakes were high. Resources were limited. And decisions carried consequences.
That same logic drives how I approach recruitment in women’s football.
Most clubs have scouts working across the globe. They end up with 10, 15, maybe 20 legitimate names—players who could help. But here’s the reality: most clubs don’t have the money to sign 10. They don’t even have the money to sign 5. They’ve got the financial resources for 3.
So where do you spend it?
Who do you spend it on?
And—God forbid—you get it wrong… what then?
The Cost of a Wrong Decision
In men’s football, a wrong signing is frustrating. It might cause noise or short-term instability, but there’s often enough money and margin to recover. You move the player on. You try again in the next window.
But in women’s football, a wrong signing is more than a mistake—it’s a missed opportunity that might not come back. A single misfire can disrupt team dynamics, stall development, and tie up a third of your total investment for the season.
In counterterrorism, we had a similar challenge: we were often presented with 10 legitimate targets. But we only had the resources to act on 3. And we could not afford to prosecute the wrong ones. A misjudged action wasn’t just wasted—it was dangerous. So we had to be ruthless in one very specific way: in choosing wisely.
That’s what clubs in women’s football need in recruitment today. Not more volume. More clarity.
Most Clubs Stop at Identification. We Start at Elimination.
The standard process is this: scouting networks identify 10–20 players. All are qualified. All pass the eye test. All could fit.
But “could” isn’t good enough.
You need to know which three move the needle.
Which three elevate not just your starting eleven, but your whole club culture.
Which three you can trust to adapt, stay fit, perform under pressure—and still be valuable 18 months from now.
This is where our work begins—not with who’s on the list, but with who should come off it.
The Last Mile Model
We take that pool and apply a model rooted in military and intelligence frameworks:
Psychological resilience and adaptation—who has already proven they can thrive in unfamiliar environments or hostile settings.
Comparative upside—who will outperform expectations once inside your system, not just on paper.
Cultural fit and team dynamics—who contributes to cohesion, not just performance.
Opportunity cost—if you choose Player A, what does it cost you not to sign Player B?
And then we narrow it down. Not based on preference. Based on risk. Based on impact. Based on the fundamental question: can you afford to get this wrong?
Why This Matters More in Women’s Football
Men’s clubs often operate with room for error. They can survive—and recover from—bad signings. But in women’s football, the entire recruitment strategy may hinge on three or four key decisions. A single poor investment can unravel momentum the club spent two years building.
That’s why this work matters. Because women’s football doesn’t have the safety nets. You can’t sign and hide. You can’t spend and spin.
You have 10 legitimate options. You can only act on 3.
Make the wrong decision, and you don’t just lose a player—you lose time, budget, chemistry, and sometimes credibility.
Precision Isn’t Conservative. It’s Strategic.
This approach doesn’t mean hesitation. It means certainty. It means spending when you’re sure—and knowing when to walk away.
In counterterrorism, that saved lives.
In football, it saves seasons.
That’s the difference between scouting widely—and recruiting wisely.
That’s the last mile.