Norwich City have sacked manager Liam Manning after eleven games without a single win.
It is the first time a team in the second tier of English football has lost their first seven home league games of a season.
The 40-year-old was only appointed in June, but after 17 games in charge, Manning was dealt his final blow, losing 2-1 late on against Leicester City.
In a statement released on Saturday, the club said:
‘Norwich City can confirm that the club have parted company with head coach Liam Manning.
Assistant head coach Chris Hogg and first-team coach analyst James Krause have also left the club.
Sporting director Ben Knapper said: “We have tried absolutely everything possible to work through this incredibly challenging period but, unfortunately, given the recent run of results and performances, we have been left with no choice other than to make a change at this stage.
“Liam and his staff worked tirelessly to move our football club forward. They are all fundamentally good people and we wish them the very best in whatever comes next.
“We very much understand the frustration and criticism from our supporters at this stage. So far, results and performances on the pitch haven’t been good enough. We accept that responsibility, but it’s now imperative that we start to repair the relationship with our supporters and do everything we can to give them something to get behind.”
First-team coach Ryan Garry, supported by goalkeeper coach Tony Roberts and set piece coach Nick Stanley, will take charge of the first team on an interim basis, as the club works to appoint a new head coach.’
So who could be taking the hot seat at Carrow Road?
Russell Martin
Russell Martin captained Norwich City and spent nearly ten years at the club during his playing career. A return to the place where he spent most of his time as a footballer only seems right.
After a tough year at Southampton, being sacked with just one win in December, to being sacked by Rangers after just 17 games, settling down at a club that should have the tools to stay in the second tier, in Norwich City, could be a good move to galvanize the Scotsman’s career again.
Martin has a heavy focus on ball retention, and his teams tend to have the most possession in the division every year, whether it’s with MK Dons, Swansea, or Southampton in the EFL.
Gary O’Neil
Recently rejecting Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers, O’Neil will be in search of his first long-term managerial project, and Norwich City could just be the place for that.
A man who has fought out relegation battles well with AFC Bournemouth and Wolves in the top flight, O’Neil could be a good springboard and do that with Norwich, while looking at promotion long-term.
Contrary to reports, O’Neil does not look to be heading to Southampton as the replacement for Will Still.
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick’s three-year spell at Middlesbrough proved that the former Manchester United midfielder is a decent and promising Championship manager.
While some coaches are blind to change, Michael Carrick may view his time at Riverside as a learning curve – his tactical stubbornness ultimately got him the sack at Boro as he struggled to adapt after other sides had sussed out his methods.
Carrick’s playing style focuses on retaining possession and keeping the ball, similar to that of Russell Martin. He would be a decent coup for the struggling Canaries.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær
A managerial option that would prove a big risk take from the under-fire Norwich board, former-Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær is out of a job, after leaving Beşiktaş.
If Solskjær is looking to settle down back in England, leading the rebuild at Norwich City could be the project for him.
A manager who looks to play attractive football, branded ‘Ole ball’ by Red Devils fans, he finished 2nd in the Premier League with his former club.
Alex Revell
Up-and-coming manager Revell has had a great spell in League One with underdogs Stevenage, who sit fifth in the table after 13 games.
The 42-year-old has not just steadied, but significantly improved a side who have only recently come up from League Two, taking over from Steve Evans and launching them into promotion contention.
A decent-looking prospect, Norwich could lure him to Carrow Road – a manager who has taken a team from the bottom half of the table and projected them up into promotion hopefuls.
The problems clearly run deeper than any manager at Carrow Road. Post-match on Saturday, protests outside Carrow Road saw fans chanting “You’re not fit to wear the shirt,” and calling for Sporting Director Knapper to leave the club.
It’s a long road back to fix the relationship between the Canaries fans, who are feeling a disconnect from their club, and the board.
The next managerial appointment has to be spot on, or the club could be at risk of relegation to League One.
