Ex-Crystal Palace CCO tipped to join Town as part of reshuffle
Webber rumoured to become new managing director
Luton Town are rumoured to be making a major change to the club’s hierarchy and scouting team by bringing in former Crystal Palace chief commercial officer Barry Webber as managing director, with Sajjad Yousuf also reportedly departing Kenilworth Road.
Webber has spent the last decade at Selhurst Park, and was instrumental behind a huge period of success behind the scenes for the Eagles, spearheading huge commercial revenue growth at the club, as the Eagles’ sponsorship income grew by £2.9m in the previous financial year, while across the board it rose from £31m in 2024 to £38.7m in 2025.
He is also credited for securing the deal that saw hugely popular Apple TV series Ted Lasso filmed at the club’s home stadium, with the venue also chosen to host World Championship Boxing as well. The Daily Mail is now reporting that he will move to Kenilworth Road as managing director and head up the Hatters’ Power Court stadium project, while chief executive Gary Sweet remains to lead the rest of the operation.
Writing on LinkedIn this week about his time with Palace, who won the Conference League last term, Webber put: “Tuesday marked my final day at Crystal Palace Football Club after 10½ remarkable years. It has been an absolute privilege to serve this football club, its supporters, and the South London community. I am hugely grateful to Steve Parish for his trust and backing throughout — his leadership and inspiration set the tone.
"And it was immense to be part of the executive team during a period that delivered FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Conference League success — truly historic moments for the club. Crystal Palace will always remain a defining part of my career. Over the past decade, we delivered a step-change across the club’s commercial platform and wider business, navigating the Covid years while driving significant growth in revenue and profitability. We have evolved into a highly attractive, digitally-driven commercial enterprise.
"Highlights include five front-of-shirt partnerships (including Temporal and Cinch). designed and launched some of the most successful and historic club kits and retail ranges. Transformed the Selhurst Park matchday experience through technology and supported a broader digital evolution across web and app platforms, alongside global pre-season tours in the USA, Singapore, and Australia, major events such as world title boxing at Selhurst, and innovative fan engagement activations from Ted Lasso to European travel experiences.
“What I am most proud of, however, is how we did it — building a culture of performance, resilience, and collaboration with a team that consistently delivered at a high level. None of this happens without outstanding people, and I am hugely grateful to everyone I have worked with over the years for their energy, commitment, and contribution. I am also proud to have served as a trustee of Palace for Life and to have supported the Selhurst Park redevelopment plans, helping ensure the club’s impact continues long into the future. I am now looking forward to stepping into a new exciting challenge.”
Meanwhile, there is also speculation of a further change to the scouting system, with Football League World stating that player recruitment manager Yousuf is leaving the club after two years. Town made the move to bring in William Lancefield as head of recruitment in May, as the ex-Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur figure was tempted away from Scottish Premier League side Hearts, where he had the same role.
The report states the decision was made following an internal review of the club's recruitment department, as Yousuf, who arrived at Kenilworth Road in the summer of 2024, stepped up to head the recruitment department with Jay Socik 12 months ago. However, with Lancefield coming in, it saw Socik depart after more than five years as head of recruitment analysis, while Alexander Wilkinson also moved on having spent four years with the club as senior scout.
It could now be that Yousuf, who held scouting and recruitment positions with Reading, Chelsea and Arsenal while serving as technical director at Dutch side FC Den Bosch for 18 months prior to his time in Bedfordshire, also moves on as the club, under manager Jack Wilshere, looks to try and form a squad that is capable of winning promotion back to the Championship this term.