Gordon Milne, who had assumed the Technical Director position for 6.5 years at Beşiktaş and during this time, had made the Black & White Community experience the joy of 3 championships – in one of which Beşiktaş was the undisputed champion, began working as the Beşiktaş Football Director. 

The Vice President Murat Aksu and the Vice President in charge of the Football Branch Kıvanç Oktay announced in the press conference they organized with Gordon Milne in the BJK Nevzat Demir Facilities that Milne started working as the Football Director in Beşiktaş.
The Vice President Murat Aksu who spoke early in the press conference said that they have realized many great projects such as the Fulya Project, BJK Akatlar Sport and Culture Complex, construction of the new field and new investments since they took power so that Beşiktaş becomes a World Club. Aksu said that they have to monitor all developments, as the Board of Directors, in order to obtain success in sportive activities, and added as the following:
 
“As a result, we initiated the concept of having a “Director of Football” which is one of the requirements of being a World Club and an institution being used in the world clubs; and bringing a unit, already existing in every European club, to Turkey. To this end, we met with one of our legendary coaches Gordon Milne who has worked 6.5 years in Beşiktaş Club, experienced 3 championships–in one of which Beşiktaş was the undisputed champion, has not lost a single game for 54 weeks. He assumed the same position for 5 years at New Castle also. Now, our Coach came here to share his experience and to help us.”
Murat Aksu who underlined that the President Yıldırım Demirören had a meeting with him last week and said “Resignation of our Coach Rıza Çalımbay unfortunately coincided with the date Gordon Milne arrived to İstanbul. There is no connection between the two developments. We were already considering bringing Milne as the Football Director. We heard from some of the media that Milne would be assigned as the Technical Director which had become available as Rıza Çalımbay resigned.  This was not what we had in mind”.
Aksu said that Gordon Milne would ensure professionalism in all Football Units, including the Infrastructure, and explained that the experienced Coach will set up his own organization concerning all administrative matters related to football, Football Schools, planning and external affairs, football scanning and monitoring.
The Vice President Kıvanç Oktay also said that they continued doing nice and important things for Beşiktaş, and added:
 “We made an agreement with Gordon Milne so that we can take a significant step towards professionalism. We took a very serious step with respect to the future of our Beşiktaş in the long run. He will take the position in order to coordinate all our Football Schools, everything organized under the Football Branch, especially those that are related to the future of Beşiktaş and everything that are related to our Football Team. He will also head the monitoring, scanning and searching functions. Additionally, he will assist me in my position as the President of the Football Branch. He will function as the bridge between the Technical Director and A Team with the Management. This important decision is a step forcing us to work much more professionally. We will see the results better in the coming periods. God willing, this professionalism understanding will settle completely and we, the administrators, will deal less on sportive issues and be occupied with the administrative issues only.”
Oktay said that the Technical Director will only form the team from now on, and added “Gordon Milne will act as the bridge between our Administration and the team on all matters of the team, for instance on the problems that the Technical Director may have, and in many other matters you can think of in relation to football. God willing, this will be a good start.”
Gordon Milne, on the other hand, said that he came from England to work for the great Beşiktaş only and never thought of coming to Turkey for any other team, and continued as follows:
First of all, I will go back to the year 1987; I came across with very difficult conditions when I came to Fulya then. There were problems in all areas from showers to work out fields. Now it is very pleasing to see the incredible progress which has taken place in a short period of time.  We have to congratulate all those who contributed to such development. Now, our Club has to go even further. My position here is to become a part of this development and growth. Perhaps Turkey will have accessed EU in 10 years from now; I think this is certain. Football also has to progress just like the other areas. We have to be able to compete with Europe and should contribute to Europe. I am much honored to be a part of Beşiktaş in the step to be taken forward.”
Milne underlined that he was not in a position to create miracles in 5 minutes and everything would progress gradually, and said “We will work very hard; but the most important thing is to work together. It is impossible to reach the success in any other way. We should do our best working hand in hand, and support one another.”