Premier League Head of Learning leaves by mutual consent
Written by Simon Austin — July 14, 2020
SIMONE LEWIS, the Premier League’s Head of Learning and Development since 2013, has left the organisation by mutual consent.
Premier League Head of Coaching Marc Canham announced the news in a statement that was emailed to internal staff and clubs yesterday.
“As a result of a restructuring exercise within the Coaching Department, the Premier League and Simone Lewis have agreed to part ways by mutual consent as her role as Head of Learning and Development will no longer be required in the medium to long-term,” Canham wrote.
“After seven seasons with the Premier League, Simone plans to take some time to consider her next steps. We have therefore agreed together that she will leave today.”
Lewis (pictured below) was Head of Sports Science and Medicine at the University of Bath for more than a decade before joining the Premier League.
Her former boss at Team Bath, Ged Roddy, brought her to the organisation after he became Director of Youth. Lewis was influential in shaping and delivering the Elite Coach Apprenticeship Scheme (ECAS), a four-year development programme involving workshops, mentoring and training camps for promising coaches from Category One Academies, as well as the Elite Head of Coaching (EHOC) programme.
Canham added: “Simone has played a significant and influential role in the delivery of the Elite Player Performance Plan since 2013 and has helped transform the development culture within the academies.
“Some of her key achievements include the creation and delivery of innovative coach development programmes such as the ECAS and EHOC development programmes.
“In recent seasons, Simone has overseen the successful expansion of learning and development programmes across both the Youth and Coaching departments, leading the design and delivery of a new individualised development programme for Academy Managers across all 91 professional clubs.
“Simone has been an extremely valued team member of the Youth and Coaching Department Leadership Teams and is well respected by her peers in the Premier League and across all Clubs and stakeholders in the professional game.
“Myself, Richard Garlick and all at the League would like to wish Simone the very best with her next career move.”
In his accompanying email, Canham said: “It is also important to note, that we are hugely committed to the continued delivery of development programmes across both the coaching and youth strategies of the Premier League and despite this change, the successful delivery of these programmes will be key to our success now and in the future.
“We will find a time in the near future to come together, but for now please continue your amazing work mentoring the staff in clubs.”
Following the departure of Lewis, Learning and Development Manager Claire-Marie Roberts is set to head up the department.
ADD (15th July): We carried this story on our LinkedIn feed and these were some of the responses:
Kevin Betsy (England U17 Head Coach): "Fortunate enough to have learnt a great deal from Simone in many aspects. Outstanding professional, knowledgeable and has a way of listening intently and helping you ask yourself the right questions and reflect expertly. Eternally grateful to her."
Paul Reid (ex Sunderland Academy Manager): "Simone has been instrumental on the EAM course that I’m currently completing. Excellent delivery and support throughout the program with a great blend of learning experiences."
Lewis Spencer (Leyton Orient Academy Manager): "Simone was inspirational on my EAM programme."
