AMERICA, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman … James Mason’s “fixture” list has suddenly grown far more exotic.

City’s former chief operating officer is loving his jet-setting lifestyle working for FirstPoint USA.

Further trips to Thailand, Hong Kong and Australia are also on the calendar as Mason heads for all corners of the globe looking to source young sporting talent.

The company, founded by former Scottish footballer Andrew Kean in 2001, aims to recruit for college and then the pro arena in the USA combining sport with further education.

It is a complete change of direction for Mason, who had a short stint with Rochdale after leaving Valley Parade in the summer of 2018.

But one that he is clearly relishing alongside his work with the 59 Agency, which he set up to put on corporate and charity events with former players.

Mason was approached by FirstPoint within a couple of months of joining Rochdale and was immediately bowled over after meeting Kean.

“He enlightened me on the size and scale of American college sport,” said Mason. “He won me over within a couple of meetings about the potential it had for me to grow international links.

“It was a really exciting opportunity for me and totally different from the day-to-day running of a football club.

“You are working with top talent coming through from 15 to 18 and providing pathways for them into both top-level college sports in the States but also back into the professional game.

“Within a couple of months of being at FirstPoint, I started to think about who I knew in the game and may be suitable for this sort of opportunity.

“The type of players we would take would be in academies in the UK or at their club but perhaps are also quite academic or have aspirations to combine their studies with playing sport at the top level.

“Imagine you’re a really smart kid but also have the opportunity to play in an academy.

“One bad injury, one bad spell at a club, falling out with the manager and at 21-22 you might find yourself out of favour and dropping down the leagues.”

Ellis Hudson, who left City in December, is currently in America, studying at Florida Institute of Technology along with Stuart McCall’s son Craig.

Dan Pybus, another prospect who didn’t make the grade with the Bantams, has also got a fall-back offer if his spell playing in Scotland does not work out.

Mason added: “Dan played for England and Sunderland at a young age but then all of a sudden found himself out in Norway and at Bradford (Park Avenue). He’s a clever lad who got some excellent grades.

“As it happens, he’s gone on to play for Queen of the South and it’s gone well for him. But there may be an opportunity in the future.

“Ellis Hudson has not given up on the professional game, far from it. But he’s safeguarding his future.

“He’s doing four years in Florida but will only be in his early 20s when he finishes. He will be fitter and stronger than ever and would have had access to some of the best facilities you can imagine.”

Mason’s eyes were opened to those in a week-long tour last month when he visited college campuses in five different states.

“What they have to offer would embarrass League One and League Two clubs and most in the Championship,” he said.

“Young scholar athletes go out there at the top of their game, golfers, tennis players, track and field – they all have to ply their trade in college. Masters winner Danny Willett was a FirstPoint client.

“I loved my time at Bradford and probably wouldn’t have left if circumstances weren’t so difficult for all of us.

“When this opportunity came along, it was a complete gear shift in terms of day-to-day working. It’s been a revelation to me.

“Bradford City was a great springboard in terms of my connections within the professional game, leading on governing bodies, academies, the Premier League and the EFL.

“We’ve got 64 staff across the world, offices at Wembley and the Etihad Stadium, a bureau in China and others in Dubai, Australia and Atlanta.What’s exciting is that I literally could be anywhere at any point in the next few weeks.”