Having been overlooked when appointing a new manager recently, Mike Phelan has left his position at Norwich City by mutual consent.
The 52-year-old, who spent four years as a midfield player at Carrow Road from 1985 to 1989, only rejoined the club in November 2014 as first team coach. This was his first role since leaving Manchester United in the summer of 2013, when David Moyes decided keeping on Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant manager in favour of bringing in his own backroom staff.
When Neil Adams quit as Canaries boss on 5 January this year, it was widely thought that Phelan would be appointed as his successor. However, the Championship side instead made the surprise decision to opt for Hamilton Academical head coach Alex Neil, who has in turn brought in his former number two at Douglas Park, Frankie McAvoy, who will join the club at the end of the month.
Gary Holt will remain in his post as first-team coach, but Phelan has decided to leave his role and has had his contract terminated by mutual consent. It is unsure if the one-cap England international, who also played for Burnley and West Bromwich Albion during his career, has quit after being overlooked for the manager’s job, as he has yet to reveal his reasons for his exit.
But a statement released on the club’s official website on Tuesday read: “Following an approach by Mike to the club, City can confirm first-team coach Mike Phelan has left the club after his contract was terminated by mutual consent. Mike, a Canary hall of fame member and former captain of Norwich City, leaves with the very best wishes of everyone at the club for the future.”
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