Norwich City: Sporting director Stuart Webber to leave Canaries

The Welshman is currently serving a 12-month notice period having handed in his resignation to majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones in March, as speculation linking him to a move to boyhood club Leeds United persists. 

He will continue to work in post for the upcoming period and will continue to work his notice period.

Norwich will seek an external appointment to replace Webber - with current assistant sporting director Neil Adams taking up a role of technical director. 

City would decide to cut Webber's notice period short should a successor be found quickly, likewise, the 39-year-old could elect to depart swifter if he is handed another opportunity - although Norwich will be entitled to compensation until the end of his notice period. 

Stuart Webber guided Norwich City to two league titles during his time as sporting director. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

It's understood that Webber has spoken to Leeds about their vacancy, but that is not at an advanced stage at present. 

Discussing his departure, Webber told City's official channels: “I’d like to thank Delia, Michael and the rest of the board for their understanding in making this decision.

“The support I’ve had from all the board, past and present, throughout my time at the club has been outstanding. Delia and Michael are two of the most special people that I’ve met. They care so much about Norwich City, its staff and supporters.

“I’ve worked with some incredible staff, from my direct reports to the Executive Committee and wider staff across both the football club and Community Sports Foundation. I’ve seen so many staff grow and develop, and I can’t thank them enough for their dedication.

“Nobody will ever be able to take away our two title wins, the growth of the Lotus Training Centre and academy, and the connection our football areas now have with the wider business. Together, we have enjoyed some really special moments and we should be incredibly proud of the foundation we have managed to build to ensure future success at this club.

“To the players I’ve worked with, I’ve learned so much and they have done some incredible things over the past six years. They will go down in history at this football club.

“I look forward to the next chapter and helping as much or as little in this transition over the coming months. The board know they have my unwavering support.

“Thank you to every board and staff member, player and supporter that I’ve met. I wish the club the very best and I look forward to supporting from afar.”

The announcement comes amidst a frantic transfer window period for the Canaries as they continue to improve their squad following a disappointing 13th-placed finish in the Championship. 

Webber received plenty of criticism for his role within that disappointing campaign with everything from recruitment to the decision not to part company with Dean Smith sooner. 

It's understood that Webber's planned departure won't impact Norwich's current recruitment strategy. The club have signed off on targets for this window and are chasing them - so no efforts will be derailed as a result of their sporting director moving on. 

Zoe Webber, Stuart's wife and City's executive director, is expected to remain in post despite his decision to depart the club. 

Webber will depart Norwich six years after joining as the club's first ever sporting director from Huddersfield Town back in April 2017 - where he also had David Wagner as head coach at the time.

He quickly appointed Daniel Farke to the post of head coach and after a transitional first season - the pair led Norwich to an unexpected Championship win in 2018/19. Premier League relegation followed before another impressive title win in 20/21. 

Farke was dismissed by Webber 10 games into the following Premier League campaign with Smith named as his successor a week after his own sacking from boyhood club Aston Villa. 

Norwich succumbed to a dismal relegation that May, with Smith kept in post to lead the revival. An underpar start to the season saw Norwich pull the trigger on his tenure in December. 

Webber turned to Wagner - with the pair reuniting for the first time since they worked alongside each other at Huddersfield. 

Stuart Webber is serving a 12-month notice period at Norwich City. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

The City chief has also progressed the development of the club's Colney training base which has transitioned from over 40 portacabins to a state of the art facility that is often described as 'world class' by those internally. 

He has also helped reconnect the club's academy back to the first-team and has overseen the graduation of young talent - even if they were at the club before he arrived back in 2017. 

But Webber has become a divisive figure among supporters - seen as provocative for his comments and criticised for a range of decisions in the last two years. 

Norwich's focus will now be on appointing a replacement - that process began in March and is expected to ramp up in due course.