Dean Smith agrees deal to take over as new Norwich manager
Norwich City are set to appoint Dean Smith as their new manager. The Premier League’s bottom club reached an agreement with Smith after a weekend of negotiations and are expected to announce the deal on Monday.
Norwich have been keen to make a swift appointment after sacking Daniel Farke on 6 November. They have struggled since winning promotion from the Championship last season and will hope that Smith, who is set for a speedy return to management following his sacking by Aston Villa one day after Farke, is able to save them from relegation.
Smith, who is poised to sign a twoand-a-half-year deal, boasts an impressive CV and has impressed Norwich with his vision for the club during negotiations. The 50-year-old had spells at Brentford and Walsall before being appointed by Villa in October 2018. He made an instant impact at Villa Park, lifting his boyhood club back into the
Premier League at the end of his first season.
Villa won promotion by beating
Derby in the 2019 play-off final and Smith led his side to safety in their first season back in the top flight. He then went on to lift them to 11th place last season but he lost his job after making a disappointing start to the current campaign. Villa struggled after selling Jack Grealish to Manchester City and Smith was fired after five successive defeats.
However, his coaching credentials are not in doubt and Norwich, who are five points below 17th-placed Watford, need someone to rouse them after an awful run of form. They have won only once in the league this season, beating Brentford. Farke was sacked in the immediate aftermath of that win.
Norwich, who also held talks with Frank Lampard last week, will need Smith to stiffen their defence and give them more ideas in attack. They will hope that he brings more out of Billy Gilmour – the Scotland midfielder has made little impact since joining Norwich from Chelsea on loan. Todd Cantwell will also be hoping that Smith brings him back into the fold. The highly rated 23-year-old forward has made only five appearances this season.