End of an Era: Simon Wilson’s County Legacy
The week in which County played at Wembley, Wimbledon and Exeter demanded a lot from supporters who are determined to follow the team wherever they play. Around 1,300 miles and countless hours, not to mention the cost of travel and match tickets, demonstrated a tremendous level of commitment.
It was very pleasing that the club recognised the dedication of the 120-plus fans by welcoming them to the pitch after the match against Port Vale. Steve Bellis led a tribute and they were all presented with a certificate as a reminder of the occasion.
Some surprising news emerged last week; Simon Wilson, currently Director of Football and Chief Executive Officer of the club, is to leave at the end of the season. Owner Mark Stott has said in the past that it was Simon who persuaded him to buy the club and that he couldn’t conceive of becoming involved without him.
With a CV listing roles at Southampton, Sunderland, Manchester City and a host of other big names, there’s no doubt that Wilson’s place at the heart of County’s organisation will take some filling. The burning question now is where do we go from here?
Given all that he’s said in the past, Mark Stott will need someone at the club he can trust to advise on football and financial decisions. Simon Wilson is such a fundamental pillar of the Stott era at County that it will be fascinating to see how and by whom he will be replaced.
It’s difficult to conceive of anyone else who could have driven forward the transformation of the club in such a short period of time; the first class training facilities, the improvements to Edgeley Park, the building of the academy, the rise of the team up the leagues are, of course, a team effort but they have all come about during Simon’s tenure at the club.
His skill set will not be completely lost to the club, however, he has been invited to serve as an advisor to Stott Capital’s investments in football, providing advice to the leadership team and mentorship to key individuals.