Neil still up for Norwich rebuild job
ALEX NEIL told his players he had let them down after they were relegated, according to Norwich captain Russell Martin – but has hinted he will remain as manager.
“I don’t think there’s a huge deal to resolve for me,” said Neil. “I’ve just got to reflect on my part and have a chat with the owners.
“Those initial chats have already taken place. Sometimes the best thing to do is to sit down for a couple of hours and go through everything top to tail.
“The one thing about me is I’m up for the fight all the time. That’s not an issue for me. I don’t think there’s any question I’ve got what it takes. I’ve done it on two separate occasions at two clubs.
“I’m just trying to come to terms with what has happened this season. It’s a hard one to accept, but there’s no question it will make me stronger.”
Martin has pleaded with the Scot to stay at Carrow Road and help the club climb back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Neil, who took the Canaries up via the play-offs last season, had been linked with a move to Aston Villa but said yesterday: “I want to make something clear – I am not suggesting at any stage that I am leaving the club. It is nothing like that.
“I just feel we need to have a clear direction in which we are going and that’s important.
“I am not trying to fuel the fire or add to speculation. I don’t think you can ever promise anything in football.”
Martin added: “The manager said he feels like he has let us down – but we have let him down as well. It’s a collaborative thing. We are all responsible.
“But I back him 100 per cent to get us back up. He has got us out of the league once and in a short space of time.
“He still has the full support of the players, there is no doubt about that. I’m sure he will want to make some changes and he has learnt a lot – like we all have.
“Up until now, he has had huge success in his career – only success, which isn’t natural in football. You have to experience these lows to then have the highs.
“He will be hurting but will use that to make sure that we are right for next season.”