Wilson promoted from Director of Football to CEO by Stockport
Written by
Training Ground Guru
February 8, 2025
Simon Wilson has been promoted from Director of Football to Chief Executive Officer by Stockport County.
Wilson replaces current CEO Jonathan Vaughan, who moves into an Executive Board position after five years in the role. It is rare for someone to move from Director of Football to CEO in English football, although it is more common on the Continent.
Sessions with: David Court, Ian Yates, Dean Austin, Kevin Braybrook, Marijn Beuker, Craig Innes/ Liam Bailey, Simon Cooper, Glyn Chamberlain/ Joe McClaren/ Andy Burton and Simon Wilson.
The promotion shows how highly Wilson is regarded by Stockport. He first joined forces with owner Mark Stott as part of his takeover in January 2020 and, as Director of Football, has overseen two promotions in three years. The club currently sit fourth in League One.
As CEO, Wilson will continue to oversee football strategy as well as taking strategic and commercial leadership for the wider club. Stockport have no immediate plans to appoint a replacement as Director of Football, TGG understands.
Stott said: “Simon has been my trusted partner on this journey from the start, and under his leadership we have transformed our football infrastructure, developed a top-class Academy, secured promotion to League One and are now pushing for a place in the Championship.
“Simon is a progressive, big thinker whose skill set expands way beyond football, and I’m really excited for the next chapter under his leadership.”
We are going to aim high and work hard to push the boundaries of what Stockport County can achieve, on and off the pitch.
Simon Wilson
Wilson added: “Over the last five years, the club has grown incredibly under Jonny’s leadership, against every metric, while retaining its sense of soul and meaning to the community it serves. I’m incredibly grateful and proud to be given the opportunity to lead the brilliant staff at the club.
“We are going to aim high and work hard to push the boundaries of what Stockport County can achieve, on and off the pitch.”
Wilson started his career by joining Southampton as a Performance Analyst in 2002, becoming only the second full-time Analyst employed by a UK team. In the summer of 2006 he took on the role of Head of Performance Analysis at Manchester City and rose to become Strategy and Performance Manager and then Director of Football Services for the whole City Football Group.
After a short stint as Chief Football Officer at Sunderland, he set up his own football consultancy, before joining forces with Stott at Stockport.
In 2023, Wilson delivered a superb presentation at TGG’s Scouting and Recruitment Webinar on ‘The Role Of Recruitment In Stockport County’s Seven-Year Plan.’
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