The Club are delighted to announce that former player James Jennings has been appointed as the Club’s new Head of Professional Player Support.
The newly created role will see JJ offer crucial support to all Stockport County players off the pitch, from 17-year-olds signing their first contract to our seasoned pros, and he will be working closely with both the first-team and the Academy.
James has been heavily involved in all aspects of the Club over the last 12 months since having to retire due to injury, throwing himself into work in all departments to develop a real understanding of everyone’s roles and the demands each area of the Club faces.
With this in mind we feel he is the perfect candidate for this new position, which aims to further strengthen the positive relationship between the Club and its players for the benefit of a successful working partnership, as well as enabling the players to perform at the highest possible level by supporting their health and general all-round welfare.
James’ duties in his new job will include him welcoming and inducting new players into the Club, playing a key part in the integration of Academy players into the first-team environment and supporting the ongoing management and development of players by ensuring they have access to all the off-field support they need. He will also act as an ambassador and liaison for the first-team, aiding in the utilisation of players for media, community and commercial activities.
In addition to this, JJ will also be playing a key role in further upcoming player-related projects at the Football Club, more of which will be announced in due course.
Director of Football Simon Wilson said:
“Our professional players have an exciting but demanding challenge whilst at the Football Club. To stay fit, healthy and perform at a high consistent level for 200+ training days and over 55 games a year, to get in, and stay in the team against competition from other players inside and outside the club, to handle public comment and scrutiny and to be great ambassadors for the club and role-models to our supporters.
“Sometimes we forget that behind being ‘footballers’ they are young adults, who have personal lives, aren’t made of stone, don’t know all the answers and will make mistakes.
“The players’ performances (and behaviour) are of course essential to everything we do at the Club, and so to help guide and support the players, I’m excited and delighted to announce that James has accepted our offer in this new role.
“I believe he is an excellent fit, and having worked so hard in all departments of the Club only 12 months on from leaving the dressing room, JJ can make the relationship between the Club and the players a real strength. His passion for the role is clear to see, he remains a popular figure with everyone at Edgeley Park and we look forward to continuing our work with him.”
James Jennings said:
“I’m absolutely delighted to accept this position, and to continue my time here at Stockport County working for my local Club. I’m really excited about the opportunity to help support this group of players that I’ve come to know so well over the last two years, and to provide them with a platform to go on and achieve their full potential during their time at the Club.
“To play a part in helping Academy players step into the first-team and adapt to a first-team environment is also something I’m really passionate about, and I can’t wait to start working with Damien and the team on this at such an exciting time for the Club now we’ve been granted Category Three status.
“I’d like to thank Simon Wilson, Dave Challinor and everyone else at the Club for all the support they’ve given me since my retirement from playing. I’ve loved my time over the last twelve months working with every department and getting to know how they work, as well as working with the first-team, and I’m grateful to have the chance now to continue my journey with County into the EFL.”
