NEIL’S TIME IS UP AT THE CANARIES
ALEX Neil’s position as Norwich manager had looked in jeopardy for some time, but the timing of his dismissal caught everyone on the hop.
The decision to axe the Scot came less than 24 hours before yesterday’s Championship match against Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn Rovers.
The 35-year-old, appointed in January 2015, clearly had no inkling of what was to come when he spoke to the Press earlier in the day and talked about reshaping his squad in the summer.
“The club is more important than any one person,” he told the Eastern Daily Press. “If the board feel I am not the right person to lead it then that is the board’s prerogative.
Decision
“What I would say is in my position, knowing all the inner workings, I am the best person to lead that forward. Recent results wouldn’t suggest that but in my opinion it will get better.”
However, the decision was taken out of his hands by the board.
In a statement, the club said: “Norwich City can confirm manager Alex Neil’s contract has been terminated with immediate effect.
“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.
“The directors would like to place on record their sincere gratitude to Alex for all of his hard work and for the fantastic achievement of guiding us to the Premier League in 2015, via a memorable play-off final success against Middlesbrough at Wembley.
“As has been widely reported, the board has been conducting a thorough review of the structure of the club. An announcement about the new structure will be made next week.”
First team coach Alan Irvine took charge for yesterday’s game against Blackburn at Carrow Road.
The Canaries went into the weekend a disappointing eighth in the table, nine points off the play-off places.