Steve Stone appointed Managing Director, Sporting Director role set to be filled in near future

NORWICH City can today confirm a new footballing and executive structure to lead the Club on and off the pitch.

The structure will see the creation of three new senior roles – a Managing Director to lead the business, a Sporting Director to oversee all football operations including recruitment and a Head Coach to run the first team squad.

We are delighted to confirm that Director of Finance Steve Stone, who has been recently serving in a second stint as Interim Chief Executive, takes up the full-time role of Managing Director with immediate effect.

The process of recruiting a Sporting Director is at an advanced stage and the Club will make a further announcement to confirm this appointment in the near future.

The Sporting Director will work with the Board to identify a new Head Coach, with Alan Irvine managing the team on a caretaker basis for today’s Sky Bet Championship match against Barnsley before the international break.

The new Head Coach, Technical Director Ricky Martin and Academy Manager Richard Money will all report into the Sporting Director in a revamped footballing structure.



The Head Coach will work together with the Sporting Director on recruitment, to identify the right players with the ability, commitment and hunger to improve the Club’s performance on the pitch.

Chairman Ed Balls told canaries.co.uk: "After a considered review of every aspect of the Club, the Board has opted to change our previous model of having a single Chief Executive responsible for both football and business activities.





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"As Managing Director Steve Stone will run the business, while a Sporting Director will lead our football operations. While neither of them will be a Board member, they will report directly to us and be responsible for delivering success in their areas.

"The Sporting Director will considerably enhance the football expertise available to the Board, which we think is vitally important. We are interviewing candidates for this role currently and, once appointed, their first job will be to lead the recruitment of a Head Coach.

"Meanwhile Steve Stone has demonstrated no-nonsense efficiency and a deep appreciation for the history and values of Norwich City in his roles as Director of Finance and Interim CEO for us. He is the Board's first choice to lead the business effectively and ensure we continue to serve our supporters to the very best of our abilities at all times."

Stone, 47, joined the Club as Director of Finance in 2015 after holding similar roles at Spirit Pub Company and Gala Bingo from 2005 onwards.

He commented: "The Club is in a financially stable position, with great teams and people in place right across the business. We’ll be working together creatively to maximise the money available to support the first team and Academy and we are committed to improved engagement with our fans as part of our strategy.

"Once again, our supporters have shown their remarkable and humbling loyalty and season tickets for next year will be capped at 22,000, meaning there will be more full houses at Carrow Road in the 2017-18 campaign.

"We need to match that loyalty by working together to get this Club going again and drive it forwards and that is what we will strive to do."