Norwich City’s sporting director Stuart Webber has agreed to leave the club earlier than planned, with Steve Knapper taking over the role to help address the team’s poor performance in the Championship. Webber, who had been at the club for six years, oversaw two Championship title wins, two relegations and three head coach appointments before leaving to pursue his personal ambition of climbing Mount Everest. Meanwhile, Knapper, who left Arsenal last month, has agreed to start his new role earlier than expected to provide stability and certainty to the footballing department.
The decision comes after Norwich’s recent string of poor results, including a 3-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers. The defeat sparked anger among the club’s supporters, who called for head coach David Wagner to be relieved of his duties and directed their frustrations towards Webber and the board. In response to the discontent, meetings were held, leading to the decision to bring in Knapper earlier than planned in an attempt to turn the team’s fortunes around. The board expressed their gratitude to Webber for his contributions to the club and highlighted their commitment to supporting the players and staff through this challenging period.
Webber’s departure marks the end of a controversial era at Carrow Road, with his time at the club including fluctuating fortunes on the pitch and a transformation of the club’s facilities at the Lotus Training Centre. Despite the success of two Championship title wins, there were also two relegations, ultimately resulting in the hiring of head coach David Wagner. Webber’s decision to leave the club is driven by a personal ambition to climb Mount Everest, a goal he plans to achieve before considering his next challenge in football.
Knapper, who was previously at Arsenal, had originally planned to take a break between roles but has now been parachuted in to provide certainty and stability to Norwich City’s footballing department. The club hopes that his appointment will help them recover from their recent run of poor form and improve their position in the Championship table. Continued progress both on and off the pitch is the goal for the club, as they acknowledge the frustration and concern among fans following their recent on-field performances. They remain committed to supporting the players and staff during this challenging period.
