Norwich City have parted ways with Liam Manning after an 11 game winless run which has left them second from bottom in the Championship.

Manning was trying to implement an expansive style of play, with Norwich ranking in the top 10 in the Championship when it comes to passes and possession - but the Canaries lacked any real goal threat with just 14 goals across 15 games this term. 

William Hill offer extensive new manager markets with some strong value compared to other brands - they are also among the quickest bookies to release next manager odds after a manager has left a club.

Next Norwich Manager Odds

Who Will be the Next Norwich Manager?

Russell Martin

Russell Martin makes a lot of sense for this role. I think the Championship is the best place for him, and he’ll have a side that has been largely constructed in the perfect manner for his style of play. Martin spent over eight years of his playing career at Norwich, too, so the connection is clear.

Martin would be a risk due to the fracture that his style causes amongst fan bases, and his recent failure at Rangers which was largely brought about by fans never quite buying into his style. He’s likely to be offered more patience if he is appointed Norwich manager, with expectations tumbling after a slow start to the campaign.

That being said, Martin himself may not want to take on this role with no obvious route to the Premier League, as the Canaries sit 16 points off a playoff spot in the Championship.

Martin has earned promotion from the Championship before with Southampton and would fit with Norwich’s overall philosophy of playing in an expansive manner, especially at home.

🔮 Ramis' Verdict

Martin is a solid choice and I’d expect him to remain in the frame until the final shortlist. I would question whether appointing someone like Martin, who has just had a turbulent time at Rangers, is the best choice for a Norwich side that could find themselves embroiled in a surprise relegation fight, with how poor their results have been across the early period of the campaign.

The positives include Martin being able to implement his ideas quite easily, as the squad has been designed to play in quite an open manner, as well as Martin having experience of taking a side up from the Championship, as he did with Southampton a few seasons ago.

Martin was the 2/1 favourite to be Manning's replacement at one point, but has now drifted to around the 7.00 mark. There could be a bit of value in backing him if he continues to drift to a double digit price, although the drift would also suggest Norwich could be looking elsewhere.

Michael Carrick

Brendan Rodgers was another favourite in the betting market for this role, but my eyes have been drawn to Michael Carrick who sits a bit further down the betting market at this 13/1. I’d expect this to shorten in the coming days with the inevitable links that will begin to develop between the former Boro manager and the job at Norwich.

Carrick was dismissed from his role at Middlesbrough after a series of near misses with the playoffs. I think if Boro had been a bit more patient with Carrick, Boro would have eventually cracked the playoffs and given themselves a decent chance of promotion.

Whoever ends up taking this job is likely to demand some serious reinforcements in January, with the Norwich squad severely lacking in some areas, particularly when it comes to their options in the final third. Carrick makes sense from this point of view as he can work to maximise the current squad, whereas other managers may be a bit more demanding in what they require - many Norwich fans have cited issues at board level rather than on the pitch, as to why the club has stagnated over recent seasons.

🔮 Ramis' Verdict

Carrick offers Championship experience and a proven record of working at a club which isn’t always the most stable and may let you down when it comes to recruitment.

He’s a more appealing option to me than the likes of Gary O’Neil and Brendan Rogers, who are more favoured in the betting market, but are likely to demand big pay packets, as well as assurances of the squad being improved in January. 

Carrick can lean on his experience of inspiring confidence in the Boro side to uplift a Norwich side that is in desperate need of a pick me up.

Who is the favourite in the betting to be the next Norwich manager?

Jon Dahl Tomasson is the current favourite, available to back at 2.75 with William Hill.

Gary O'Neil, Will Still, Russell Martin and Michael Carrick are among the favourites to replace Manning, too.

Why did Liam Manning leave Norwich?

Liam Manning’s sacking was inevitable, with Norwich winless across their last 11 matches, and losing each of their last seven matches at Carrow Road under his tenure.

This record left Norwich second from bottom in the Championship at the time of Manning's departure, with only Sheffield Wednesday - who recently suffered a points deduction - below them in the table. Only the two Sheffield sides have conceded more goals than Norwich (23) in the Championship this term.

What was Norwich's Club Statement?

Liam Manning has not offered comment since his dismissal, but Norwich’s parting statement reads:

'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.

What do Norwich fans think of Liam Manning leaving?

The overwhelming response to Liam Manning’s dismissal by Norwich fans has been one of ‘it’s not his fault’. Manning looked doomed to fail from the beginning after a disappointing summer transfer window in which he wasn’t backed, leaving the squad well short of the expectations of the club before the start of the campaign.

Most of the anger has been directed at the board and sporting directors, who are seen to have left the club to stagnate in the Championship over recent seasons, and this could end up with Norwich in real jeopardy, as we’ve seen with other big clubs that get stuck in the Championship cycle.

Next Norwich Manager Rumours

The rumour mill is already churning out early favourites for the Norwich job, Jon Dahl Tomasson, Will Still, Gary O'Neil, Russell Martin and Michael Carrick currently leading the betting markets.

One thing which is worth noting is that Norwich ideally want a manager that has recent Championship experience. It’s a cut throat league, and is growing in competitiveness every year, so Norwich will need a manager that understands the league to ensure that they don’t get trapped in a battle at the bottom of the table this term.

Who do Norwich fans want to be the new manager?

Norwich fans want a steady hand at the helm, but this criticism is aimed more at the sporting directors than the coach. Michael Carrick seems to be the favourite from fans given the chatter on social media, and his appointment would make a lot of sense after his job at Middlesbrough.

Carrick would be able to instil some confidence in this Norwich side, which is much needed at the moment. Gary O’Neil has also been mentioned by fans, likely due to his previous connections to the club, having played with the Canaries during his playing career.

How have Norwich been doing this season?

Norwich have been very poor so far this season, winning just two of their first 15 Championship matches. This record has left them second bottom of the Championship at the time of writing, four points from safety.

Only the two Sheffield clubs have conceded more goals than Norwich in the Championship this season (23), with Norwich having the worst home record of any side in the division - losing all seven of their matches at Carrow Road, conceding 13 goals in the process. 

Are Norwich bottom of the league?

No, Norwich sit second bottom in the Championship. Sheffield Wednesday currently sit bottom of the Championship, having suffered a points deduction which sees them sit on -4 points.

What are Norwich's next fixtures?

Norwich take on Birmingham away from home in their next match, before back to back home games against Oxford United and QPR - the Canaries must win at least one of these games to stop the rot at home and start to build some confidence at Carrow Road.

The meeting with Sheffield United at the start of December really stands out when looking at Norwich’s next few fixtures. The new manager should have had time to settle in by then, and have an instant six pointer to contest at the bottom of the table.

Are Norwich going to get relegated?

Possibly, Norwich currently sit in the relegation zone and will need to start picking up points soon with a four point gap currently barring them from safety. Norwich’s chances are aided by Sheffield Wednesday sitting on -4 points after suffering a points deduction.

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing *

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