Post by Macmoish on Jul 16, 2022 10:41:35 GMT
www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/dr-imtiaz-ahmad-explains-restructure-150722/
Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad explains restructure
QPR FC @qpr
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QPR CEO Lee Hoos and director of football Les Ferdinand have restructured the clubâs medical and sports science departments.
Ferdinand explained: âLee and I held discussions towards the end of last season on a number of matters, including how the medical and sports science departments work together.
âWe both felt there was scope for them to work more cohesively which would naturally benefit the football club.
Ross worked with Mick Beale previously so it is great they have a relationship already.
Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad
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âIn Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad we have someone who we believe can help achieve that. Following meetings with him, he shared our views and presented a proposal for its implementation which we fully support.â
Dr. Ahmad will now oversee both areas of the football club as he looks to align the departments, taking on the role of head of medicine & performance.
Ross Bennett has been confirmed as the clubâs head of sports science while Aaron Harris will continue in his role as head physiotherapist.
Bennett and Harris will both report directly to Dr. Ahmad, while Matt Horton is also working with the first team to assist Bennett.
âThere is a very important relationship between the medical team, the sports science team and the coaching staff,â Ahmad said.
âIn order to align those areas, we are bringing medical and sports science departments under the same umbrella. This will streamline matters and, ultimately, bring more accountability.
âThe two departments are intertwined so bringing them together in this way is a logical step and will help enhance communications.
âWe work together on injury prevention and optimising performance and also, when players do get injured, we work closely on their rehab so they can return to first-team activity as early and safely as possible.
âSo the relationship between the departments is very close and very important.â
Bennett has been at QPR for nine years in the clubâs academy working closely with Chris Ramsey and makes the step up to first-team affairs at a time when a former colleague has taken on the role as head coach.
âRoss worked with Mick Beale previously at Chelsea so it is great they have a relationship already,â Ahmad said.
âCrucially, Ross knows QPR well, he understands the club and he knows how committed we are to continually improving our medical and sports science departments.â
Harris joined the Râs four years ago and Ahmad said: âAaron, Daryl Martin (physio), Adam Wright (physio), Jasper Clinkscales (sports therapist) and George Earl (sports therapist) are a settled medical team.
âThey have many years of experience working in football so we have a lot of knowledge across both areas of the club which is how I want it to be because this will enable us to push both areas onto another level.â
Ahmad was regarded as a leader in football during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and he believes this restructure will help his department to evolve.
âWe are always looking to improve and to develop,â he said. âWe want to get stronger. We have just introduced the use of artificial intelligence to review our data which will help us to predict, and therefore avoid, particular injuries.
âWe have also brought nutritionist Scott Mitchell into the first-team fold, and there will be a greater focus on the playersâ hydration, diet and sleep.
âThis closer communication between the medical and sports science departments will be another important step in the right direction.â
Ahmad is grateful to the club for enabling him to build his team behind the team.
âI would like to thank director of football Les Ferdinand and CEO Lee Hoos for giving me their support and backing with the restructure as we look to move the club forward,â he said.
Former Head of Performance Daniel Bernardin has left the club to develop his own business, FSCR, which you can learn about HERE. The club would like to thank Daniel for his hard work and professionalism throughout his time with us