(Football news) Championship club Norwich City have sacked Dean Smith after a poor run of form that has seen the former Premier League club in 5th place after securing just 3 wins in their last 13 games. Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare and first-team coach Liam Bramley have also left the club. As a result, Steve Weaver and Allan Russell will take over as caretakers.

“As the club continues to work towards its on-field objectives this season, the board believe that it is the right time to make this transition. The club will now work to identify and appoint a new head coach that is able to deliver both the level of performances required to challenge at the top end of the league whilst implementing a consistent style of play.”

Norwich City said in a statement

“This was a tough decision, but one that we felt was necessary to give ourselves the best possible chance of achieving our objective of promotion to the Premier League this season. With just under half of the season remaining and three consecutive home games on the horizon we now have a real opportunity to build some forward and positive momentum, both on and off the pitch.”

Norwich Sporting director Stuart Webber

Norwich were at the top of the Championship table on 1st October but a string of poor performances has seen them relegated to fifth place, 12 points off the leaders. Smith was appointed as Daniel Farke’s successor in November 2021 but could not stop Norwich City’s relegation from the Premier League last season. Smith has previously managed Aston Villa, guiding them to promotion in England’s top flight in 2019 and reached the Carabao Cup final the following year. He was sacked by Aston Villa after five consecutive Premier League defeats in the 2021/22 season and took up the Norwich job eight days later.

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