Technical Director Adams to leave Norwich after nearly 20 years

Youth Cup glory for Adams

Adams initially rejoined Norwich as an Under-14s coach in the Academy, while also working in the media, but went full-time at the club in the summer of 2011.

His Under-18 side won the FA Youth Cup in 2012-13 – beating Chelsea in the final – and in April 2014 he was appointed Caretaker-Manager of the first team after Chris Hughton was sacked. Although he was unable to prevent relegation to the Championship, that summer he was given the job on a permanent basis.

Adams resigned from the role in January 2015 but returned that July as Loans Manager – a role he held for six years until being promoted to Assistant Sporting Director under Stuart Webber. When Webber left the club in the summer of 2023, Adams moved into the role of Technical Director.

As a midfielder, Adams played regularly for Norwich in both the Premier League and Division One (now the Championship) and was later voted into the club’s Hall of Fame. He also had two spells at Oldham Athletic, helping them win promotion to the Premier League, and was part of Everton’s league title-winning team in 1986-87, after starting his career at Stoke City.

Dunn was promoted to become Head of Recruitment in the summer of 2021 from his previous role as Head of Performance and Recruitment Analysis, which he had moved into in 2018.

He initially joined the Canaries from Everton in 2013 as First Team Performance Analyst, before becoming Head of Performance Analysis two years later.

The club will advertise for a new Head of Recruitment to replace Dunn.

Rastrick could be another departure

Meanwhile, Norwich’s Head of Football Development Dean Rastrick is in talks with Everton about becoming their Academy Manager. 

He was previously Academy Manager for 13 years at Tottenham Hotspur and has also worked as Youth Development Officer for Luton Town and Head of Youth Development for Derby County. He is in his second spell with the Canaries, having been Assistant Academy Manager from 2006 to 2010.

Carl Darlington has been the Interim Academy Director at Everton for the past seven months since Gareth Prosser left to become Academy Director at Al Jazira Club in the United Arab Emirates.

While Rastrick may be on his way out of Carrow Road, one new arrival is Nick Jenkinson, who has joined as Physio.

Since 2014, Jenkinson has been the Physiotherapist for the King Power Polo Team, where he was in charge of injuries, rehabilitation and strength and conditioning.

His football career started in the Azerbaijan Premier League, working under the management of former Arsenal captain Tony Adams. In his role he worked with a variety of players from those in the Academy up to internationals.