Goodwin named Head of Performance and Medical as Wycombe ‘continue to raise standards’

Jon Goodwin has been named Head of Performance and Medical by Wycombe Wanderers following three years with the Saudi Olympic Training Centre in Riyadh.

The League One side said the appointment was part of an ongoing drive to “raise standards” following the takeover by Kazakh billionaire Mikheil Lomtadze in May. 

Goodwin will “focus on optimising the physical and mental well-being of all players, ensuring peak performance throughout the season and beyond” and his role will be aligned with the “long-term vision of developing homegrown talent from the Academy,” Wycombe said.

Having scrapped their Category Two Academy in 2012, the club recently applied for Category Four status for the start of 2025/26 and former AFC Wimbledon Academy Manager Jeremy Sauer has joined as Academy Director. Dan Rice, the former Everton Head of Emerging Talent, oversees the whole football operation as Chief Football Officer and now Interim Chairman.

Goodwin, who starts work on November 4th, was Head of Academy Sports Science at Fulham from 2019 to 2022 before moving to Saudi Arabia. Prior to this, he worked at St Mary’s University for 16 years, latterly as their Programme Director for Strength and Conditioning.

Rice said: “This is a significant appointment for us as we continue to raise the standards at which we operate. Jon’s extensive experience across both football and Olympic sports makes him the ideal candidate to lead our performance and medical teams. We’re excited to see the influence he will have on our progress.

“Furthermore, in line with our ambitions, we are investing in a newly designed gym at our Harlington training base. This facility will provide cutting-edge resources to support player development and enhance performance on the pitch, reinforcing our commitment to creating an elite environment for success.

“These investments are essential as we strive for on-field achievements and foster the long-term success of our first-class academy, which will be the cornerstone of our future.”

Goodwin added: “I’m excited to be stepping into this role with Wycombe. It’s an amazing opportunity to join a club with its heritage, current potential and culture, and vision for the future. Speaking to the manager, the owner and staff in the club, it feels like a forward-looking, aspirational environment; one that inspires you to give your absolute best to the mission.”

Wycombe said that in addition to overseeing physical conditioning, data analysis, recovery, and injury prevention, Goodwin would “work closely with coaching staff on nutrition, lifestyle guidance, mental resilience, and the psychological aspects of performance.”

The club are currently fifth in League Two.