Time runs out for Hughton as Norwich City turn to Adams

A run of four defeats in their last six matches has left Norwich City on the brink of the relegation zone and Chris Hughton out of a job.

Hughton led the Canaries to a respectable 11th place finish in the Premier League last season, and bolstered his squad during the summer with the additions of Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Gary Hooper and Johan Elmander amongst others. The intention for Norwich this term was to consolidate their status as a mid-table side, but they have endured a difficult campaign which has them fighting for survival.

The 1-0 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday was their fourth in the last six fixtures, and leaves them just one place above third-bottom Fulham, albeit with a cushion of five points. They travel to Craven Cottage this weekend in a game which could all but seal a fourth successive term in the top-flight, but they do so without Hughton who was relieved of his duties and replaced with Neil Adams on Sunday afternoon.

“Norwich City can confirm Chris Hughton, Colin Calderwood and Paul Trollope have parted company with the club with immediate effect – and the former Canary winger and FA Youth Cup-winning coach Neil Adams has been appointed as first-team manager,” read a statement on Norwich’s website on Sunday evening.

“The Norwich City board has taken the decision to give the club the maximum chance to secure the points required between now and the end of the season to ensure retention of our Premier League status. The run of four defeats in our last six Premier League games and six consecutive away league defeats, left the club with no choice but to act.”

Adams spent five years as a player at Carrow Road, but his biggest success on the pitch came at Everton when he featured 12 times as they won the league title in 1987. Last season he led Norwich to a surprise FA Youth Cup glory, when they beat Chelsea over two legs to claim their first success in the competition since 1983.

 

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