Norwich City column: Liam Manning ticks the most boxes as search for new Canaries boss nears a conclusion
Ladies and gentleman, the long wait for Norwich City’s new head coach is finally reaching its conclusion.
Barring any late hiccups, Liam Manning will be the man to replace Johannes Hoff Thorup, arriving from Championship rivals Bristol City. His appointment could even be confirmed by the time this column is published.
The process may have been drawn out, even a little tedious at times, but I’m extremely excited for Manning to take charge having followed his career since his time at MK Dons.
Not only is he a Norfolk boy, but he is a head coach on the up, with a strong track record of making teams better.
Including Bristol City, who he guided to the play-offs last season, despite having a weaker team (with respect) – and significantly less budget – than ourselves.
Of course, there is one blot on his copybook – the fact that he represented Ipswich at youth level. But in his defence, he did use that as a springboard to play for some of Suffolk’s bigger clubs, such as Leiston, Long Melford and Woodbridge Town!
But in all seriousness, while there is absolutely no guarantee of success, Manning is the candidate who ticks the most boxes.
Importantly, his impending arrival means we can start to step up our preparations for the next campaign, when the target remains to secure a play-off spot and ultimately make a long-overdue return to the Premier League. Because that’s where this wonderful club, and its large and loyal fanbase, deserves to be.
With a wealth of incomings and outgoings expected, there will be plenty of drama to unfold over the coming months.
But for now, it’s time to put away the pen and wave goodbye to the 2024/25 season. A difficult year that promised and delivered change – sadly with very limited success.
As always, thank you for reading. It has been a genuine pleasure to write about the football club I love, not just this season, but for the last 10 years. From Wembley to the present, what a ride it’s been.
