The club is thrilled to announce that Richard Dobson will be taking on the role of Technical Director, effective immediately. His new role gives him oversight of the recruitment department, sports science and medical, and the GFC Academy.
He will continue to work alongside the first-team staff, particularly with Gareth Ainsworth, but will no longer be in the dugout for first-team fixtures. Richard will report to Managing Director, Joe Comper.
Prior to his 15 years’ experience in first-team coaching and recruiting at clubs such as Wycombe, QPR and Shrewsbury, Richard worked as youth co-ordinator at Brentford before he took up the role as Centre of Excellence Manager at Wycombe in July 2007. He has also worked as a Youth Team Coach and a Head of Youth Development.
He has recruited players for over 15 years and has worked closely with sports science staff at a number of clubs.
Joe Comper shared thought process behind the decision, saying: “We are always looking at the structure of the club and we felt the step forward would be to link the departments even closer.
“Appointing someone who oversees recruitment, academy and sports science and working closely alongside the first-team is really key. We are very fortunate that we have someone with decades of expertise in all of those areas. It was staring us in the face; I think it is a huge positive for the club and it’s a move I am really excited about.”
Richard added: “I guess this is a role that has been 25 years in the making. I have worked across every age group through the academy. I have been an academy manager, I understand the development programs of each phase and I’ve been a part of successful development of players into the first-team who have been sold to the Championship and Premier League. I have done coach education visits to the likes of PSV Eindhoven and Espanyol and spoken to all departments in those clubs around structure and how they develop their players.
“I will still be around to support the first-team but my viewpoint now is longer term and how we develop this club in the coming years.”
Gareth Ainsworth added: “Richard is an absolutely brilliant guy with such a strong understanding of the game across a number of departments. I was very much involved with the decision to make him Technical Director.
“I love the idea; I have a special bond with Dobbo and that will be essential as he takes on this new role. I trust him implicitly and think it’s a really positive move by the Football Club.”
An interview with both Joe and Richard can be seen on our official YouTube channel, and via the website.
