Stuart Webber: Six years and beyond at Norwich City
Our guest on Episode #48 of the Training Ground Guru Podcast, in association with Hudl, is Norwich City Sporting Director Stuart Webber. SHOW NOTES => 02:04: Rebuilding Norwich's training ground. Appeal of Sporting Director job was producing something sustainable at a club. 08:03: Premier League is the hardest league in the world. Even Brentford and Brighton, in Norwich's peer group, have significant owner investment. 09:56: Arriving at the club in 2017. They were lacking direction/ didn't have a lot to show for seasons in the Premier League. Simplified the plan: style of play/ invest in youth/ develop global scouting. 13:10: Evolving as a person. Change manager v status quo manager. 17:48: Is he the purest form of a Sporting Director? 23:17: Should the Sporting Director be visible and communicate with media/ fanbase? 25:41: Inspired to do the Sporting Director role by Damien Comolli. 35:35: Huddersfield Town. Focusing on foreign players and foreign coaches. 39:02: Would you appoint an English Under-21 coach as a manager? Have done it with German coaches in David Wagner and Daniel Farke. 42:30: Summit Foundation. 45:05: Criticism for mountain climbs/ Summit Foundation. Breakdown of relationship with local newspaper. 56:00: Ambitions for Norwich City. Personal ambitions. Could see a future outside football.