Brentford have appointed Rasmus Ankersen and Phil Giles as co-directors of football as part of their new club strategy.

The duo will oversee the recruitment of new players and staff, including the club's search for a new head coach.

Current boss Mark Warburton had his final game in charge last night as Brentford fell to a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff semi-finals.

Despite leading the Bees to a fifth-placed finish in their first season back in the second tier, Warburton is leaving because he does not want to give up his control over transfers.

Club owner Matthew Benham told the club website: "When changes to the football department were first announced, we were very clear that we wanted Brentford to be a club that could reach the Premier League and stay there.

"We believe this can only be achieved sustainably with an innovative approach to player recruitment and the overall management of the club. Rasmus and Phil can help us achieve our aim."

Ankersen is the chairman of Benham's Danish club FC Midtjylland and will continue in his role there as well as his new position at Brentford.

Giles, meanwhile, has worked for Smartodds, a company that Benham owns "which provides statistical sports modelling services".