Norwich claim Neil sacking was in ‘best interests’ of the club

ALEX NEIL’S Norwich City fairytale came to a bitter end last night after he was sacked ‘in the best interests of the club’. The Scot’s appointment had proved to be a masterstroke when he joined the Canaries from Hamilton Accies in January 2015, winning them promotion to the Premier League at the first attempt. But after failing to stave off relegation following the toughest of seasons in the top flight, the 35-year-old now leaves the club in eighth place in the English Championship in the wake of a string of disappointing results. Former West Bromwich Albion boss Alan Irvine will move up from his role as first-team coach to take charge of today’s game against Blackburn Rovers at Carrow Road. A statement from Norwich City read: ‘The board has taken the tough but unanimous decision, believing it is in the best interests of the club for a new manager to be in place through a crucial summer transfer window and into next season.’ Neil (above) had faced the Press little more than four hours before his dismissal was announced, using the opportunity to insist he was still the right man to lead the club in the long-term. He also stressed that he had a strong bond with joint majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael WynnJones, although it appears their mind was already made up after last weekend’s 5-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. ‘I believe 100 per cent that I can take this on and do what is required,’ said Neil, who was the second-youngest manager in the Football League when he moved south two years ago. ‘Absolutely no questions. I have no doubt in my mind about that. ‘I have the utmost respect for Delia and Michael, who I have been really close to since I came here, and I will do everything in my power to make sure we turn things around and repay them, in particular, to move things forward and make things better. ‘Whether it was me or anyone else, the club is more important than any one person. If the board feel I am not the right person to lead it, then that is their prerogative. ‘What I would say is, in my position, knowing all the inner workings, I am the best person to lead that forward.’ The writing was on the wall for Neil, however, with Norwich having won just one of their last seven matches. It leaves them sitting nine points off the play-off places with ten games remaining. Former Accies star Neil, who was recently linked with the vacant Rangers job, became Hamilton’s player-manager in 2013 before leading them to the Scottish Premiership in 2014.