Norwich City have appointed Paul Ford as their inaugural performance director, a move that head coach Philippe Clement believes will be pivotal in tackling the club’s ongoing injury challenges as they gear up for the new season. Ford, who arrives at Carrow Road following a distinguished career in British Athletics, will oversee the medical, performance, nutrition, and psychological departments, underscoring the club's commitment to a holistic approach to player welfare amid a demanding Championship campaign. Read more about Championship Clubs Splash Cash on Agent Fees.
In their quest for external expertise, Norwich City undertook a meticulous evaluation process to identify the right candidate. Clement played a key role in the final selection discussions, ultimately endorsing Ford as the ideal fit for the position. “I was involved in that, in the talks with different candidates,” Clement explained. “Other people in the club made the first selection to have several candidates, and then I was involved in the talks later on. Paul came out as the best candidate, and with all his experience with the Olympic team over a long period, I think he can be a really good extra asset for the club to help us guide the club on the medical and physical side towards where we want to go.” Read more about Clement Hails Norwich's Resilience After Millwall Victory.
Clement’s confidence in Ford stems from their shared philosophy of integrating physical and psychological preparation for players. “It’s important to have people with experience to give you the right information,” he added. “I want to work really holistically to know the players in every way and also to make the right decisions.”
Ford's transition into professional football is particularly noteworthy, given his 15-year tenure in athletics. Clement views this experience as advantageous, believing that insights from other sports can enhance training and recovery methods within football. “We discussed a lot of things, and I’m really interested in other sports also to use it in football,” he said. “The world of football is evolving, but the sports world is evolving, and you need to continue to evolve as a club.”
The appointment of Ford is part of a broader restructuring at Norwich's Colney training ground, which also sees head of recruitment Lee Dunn moving into a role as assistant sporting director under Ben Knapper. Dunn has been instrumental in recent transfer activities, successfully bringing in promising talents such as Paris Maghoma, Ali Ahmed, and Mo Toure during the January transfer window. “I think what we did with the money available was a good transfer window in January,” Clement reflected. “It’s always a difficult window, but there were a lot of positives there.”
With the hiring of Ford and the reorganisation of the backroom staff, Norwich City are clearly focused on enhancing their performance standards, both on and off the pitch. The renewed emphasis on player welfare and strategic recruitment positions the Canaries to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.