'A great step forward': Portsmouth chief hails key appointment of Wolves and ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Hull man
The former Hull, Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday man has taken up the new performance director role
Rich Hughes toasted the introduction of Pompey’s first performance director and insisted: ‘It’s another great step forward for the football club’.
Stephen Gilpin was unveiled by the Blues on Wednesday evening, having spent the last three-and-a-half years with Wolves.
A former first-team physio at Hull and Sheffield Wednesday, he has been serving as assistant director of performance at Molineux since June 2025, having been promoted from Academy and Women’s head of performance.
And, following an extensive search, Hughes is delighted with the appointment of Gilpin in a move designed to improve the Blues’ injury record.
‘A really strong track record’
Pompey’s sporting director told The News: ‘We want Stephen to be an innovator, we want him to help make sure Pompey is a destination for players to get a high level of individuality, bespoke programming and maintain a high player availability - and, ultimately, reduce that injury burden across the football club.
‘Addressing the injuries is very much a key construct of what we are trying to do. It’s really important, the role has become more prominent and more important, I think it’s another great step forward for the football club.
‘Stephen will bring a breadth of experience, he has been in several leadership roles at some really good football clubs and has a really good understanding of the medical and sports science provision. He’s got a really strong track record.
‘We’re really pleased with the skillset he brings to us. He’s a good communicator, a good organiser, a really experienced practitioner and we are hoping he will come into the club, will make a big difference.
‘He’ll work really closely with myself, John (Mousinho) and Andy (Cullen) and be a big part of the process we are trying to build out. So we’re really excited to have him coming in and we know he’ll be a really effective member of staff for us moving forward.
‘We are really excited, he’s our type of person, a very good person first and foremost, a good communicator and good leadership skills. We’re really excited for Stephen to come in and make a real impact for us.’
Gilpin also served as Rotherham’s head of performance for three years, before leaving for Wolves in August 2023.
His arrival follows last month’s appointment of League One title-winner Joe Morrell as first-team development coach, filling a long-standing vacancy.
The performance director will report to sporting director Hughes and oversee the medical and sports science & conditioning (SSC) departments. Although a Fratton Park start date has still to be agreed for Gilpin.
‘It was really important for us to make sure we got the right person’
Hughes added: ‘When Stephen starts is still to be decided at the minute.
‘We do have a backstop date, we are still in communications to see if we can move that forward, but it was really important for us to make sure we got the right person and, hopefully, that’s not too much longer.
‘There is always going to be a challenge for someone who is heavily involved with the periodisation of a training programme coming in mid-season, because obviously we are well-established.
‘It will be a really good period for Stephen to come in, finish the back half of the season and really build up that rapport, trust and communication with myself and John. Then we look forward to really getting his work in moving forward.
‘Thanks to Wolves throughout the process, they have been really open and really appreciative of the opportunity for Stephen to step forward. They are very sad to see him go and very proud to see him leave as well, so it’s a nice moment for him.’
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