Who is Simon Wilson? The lowdown on outgoing Stockport County chief 'close' to Sheffield Wednesday move
The lowdown on outgoing Stockport County CEO Simon Wilson amid links to Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday want a sporting director to be part of their new era under Arise Capital Partners.
The club’s new owners completed their takeover earlier this month and have immediately set about improving the infrastructure.
It has been widely reported the Owls want a sporting director in their new-look structure, modernising their operation and emulating rivals who have thrived.
The Star have suggested Simon Wilson is close to making a move to Hillsborough as he prepares to bring the curtain down on six years as Stockport County’s CEO.
It has been indicated Wilson has moved past rivals in the shortlist and could soon be in post at Hillsborough.
When players are linked with a club, fans can load up Wikipedia pages and YouTube highlight reels to glean more about the figure in question. With off-field figures, it is not quite so easy.
Here is everything you need to know about the man seemingly nearing a new role at Wednesday.
Career to date
Wilson oversaw performance analysis at Southampton before moving on to do the same thing at Manchester City in 2006. He later progressed to become the club’s strategy and performance manager during their transition from middling club to Premier League title challengers.
A wider role with the City Football Group followed, with Wilson spending three-and-a-half years as director of football services for the multi-club portfolio of which Manchester City is a member.
Wilson then spent time as Sunderland’s chief football officer, leaving in 2017 and eventually returning to a club role in 2020.
He joined the board at Stockport as CEO and played a key role in the club’s rise from the National League to League One. Not only has Wilson operated as CEO, he stepped into the director of football position at Edgeley Park. He is also the owner of Sleepy Giant, a sports industry consulting business.
Impact at Stockport County
It reflects rather well on Wilson that Stockport have enjoyed such a meteoric rise across the last six years.
When it was announced Wilson would be moving on at the end of the season, Stockport owner Mark Stott said: “It’s on record that I would not have bought the club if I hadn’t met Simon, and it’s clear how much progress has been made over the past six years.
“When we wrote the plan, we said we would see where we are after the sixth season. We both feel the major work has been done in setting the club up, and the next decade will be about capitalising on that. Simon felt that it might be the right time to step back from his day-to-day role to allow others to step up, and while I did ask him to consider staying, I am happy about where we have got to.
"He’s played a huge role in getting the club to where it is today, and I’m pleased he will continue to support me through Stott Capital and by mentoring key people within my investments.”