According to footballpro, the board have looked at replacements if they sack Chris Hughton. Norwich City have remarkably admitted that they will have replacements ready should they dispatch Chris Hughton from his managerial position. The former Newcastle manager has been under pressure this season for failing to deliver results following a substantial transfer budget that was given to him in the summer. The club's chief executive David McNally has said that they will be ready should the club's poor performances continue. "It would be almost delinquent of the football club to not be aware of potential candidates, if for any reason your manager left," McNally told the Eastern Daily Press. "If results are not good enough, you have to be aware of who is out there to help. You look at the market and who might be right for Norwich City. "If we needed to make a change - and the average tenure of a Premier League manager is about a year and a half, which puts Chris in the top six or top eight longest serving right now - then if a change was necessary, it wouldn't be a case of, who are the contenders? It would be a case of reviewing what is required, where are we going and who is best placed to take the club forward. "If we believe Chris is the right man to take the club forward, then we stick with that. "It is fine margins in our sport and what you have to be sure of is a guaranteed improvement."
It is always sensible to have alternatives lined up for every manager. You never know what is around the corner. That said, I think McNally was, as usual, being cagey and football pro have made more of this than there really is
This ^. He was asked the same sort of question when Lambert was manager (when the Burnley job came up and PL showed interest). Gave much the same answer then. Of course clubs have contingency plans in place, what would one expect?
I agree KC, DM was painted into a corner by Chris Goreham and used the politician's tool of many words to say nothing at all!
I agree with Kent, it's some clever quotes from McNally taken too far by "football pro" for me. McNally's statement reassures fans that the board are being proactive not reactive, and it gently lets Hughton know that they're still supportive if dissatisfied.
Yes, although a huge difference between having a contingency plan and openly discussing it. I think this is probably more about making Hughton realise he's drinking in the last chance saloon.
I think he'll be gone in the Summer barring some miracle run which will get the supporters back on side.
Really can't argue with that statement!!! It would have to be some MIRACLE run though. O/T - Just been and renewed my season ticket today!!!
Is it going to take said miracle run just to keep us up though? I think we pretty much need to go unbeaten through March to stay up, and should Hughton manage that and we obtain another mid-table finish as a result, will that be enough for him to get another season? If March is a damp squib, I can't see him still being in charge come August, whatever happens. If we stay up it'll be by the skin of our teeth and I think the board will look to make a change, and if we go down then there's no way he'll be in charge as the fans will drive him out. March is going to be very interesting!
Well on the plus side you'll get to watch more games for your money ! Finally DM is starting to make the wright noises, I believe as soon as we enter the bottom three then CH is toast. Just two months to late.
If you are a chairman/ Chief Exec you have to know how the managerial market is going. Whether you have to sack a manager or they get poached it would be naive to not have an eye on other managers progress. The reason I say that is because there seems to be a lot of press about McNally's words in these interviews when I believe it is perfectly fine what he is saying. It's being reported today in the Scottish Express that we are looking to axe Hughton and bring in Lennon. Purely on that interview somebody has interpreted it to come up with that story. Personally I think fair play to McNally for doing these interviews and facing some pretty tough questions, glad we have a CEO who does that.
I don't think it would take a miracle to keep us up in all fairness. The last 5 games are horrible but we still have a few winnable games coming up. As well as that a lot of the relegation sides are playing eachother (which I know includes us) so there will be a fair few points dropped before the end of the season. I think Hull will tail off quite badly and I also think Swansea will with Gary Monk in charge. We do really need to start putting the ball in the back of the net though.
Agreed!!! Certainly against Wet Sham, we created some good scoring opportunities, but due to some excellent goalkeeping etc, were unable to add to our 'goals for' column. Not expecting a result against Spurs, but really need to beat Stoke at home, otherwise things will be looking very bleak.
