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Sky Bet Championship: Neil Adams resigns job as Norwich City manager

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Norwich manager Neil Adams during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brentford and Norwich City at Griffin Park on S
Image: Neil Adams: Quits as Norwich manager

Neil Adams has resigned from his job as Norwich manager.

The Championship club announced Adams' departure nine months after he replaced Chris Hughton, initially as caretaker and later on a three-year contract.

Norwich are seventh in the table after coming through a poor run of one win in 10 games late last year, but they were beaten by League One side Preston in the third round of the FA Cup at the weekend.

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Former Norwich midfielder Darren Eadie discusses Neil Adams resignation as manager of Norwich City

Mike Phelan, Sir Alex Ferguson's former Manchester United assistant who joined City's coaching staff in November, will take charge of the side until a full-time manager is found and is 1/3 with Sky Bet to get the job.

Adams, meanwhile, will return in a different role in the summer after taking a break from football.

"I firmly believe that we are still on course for a crack at promotion back to the Premier League," said Adams, who was unable to stop the slide towards relegation last season.

"That is where this club belongs. However, I feel it is in the best interests of the team that an immediate change is made in order to ensure a positive impact on results. 

"It goes without saying that I sincerely hope the team achieves success this season and I would like to say a huge thank you to the supporters who have backed me during my tenure as manager."

Norwich say the search for a new manager is already under way and former Carrow Road winger Darren Eadie wants a more experienced man than Adams in charge.

Eric Steele, Mike Phelan, Derby v Norwich
Image: Phelan (r): With Eric Steele at last month's clash at Derby

He told Sky Sports News HQ: "I'm sure Mike Phelan wants to be a manger in the future. The opportunity's come a little bit earlier than expected, but he's certainly got the experience from his time at Manchester United, and every Norwich fan hopes he has got that ability.

"I think most fans would like to see someone - Mike Phelan or someone else - who's got a bit of experience at his level, because it's vital.

"Neil Adams was under enormous pressure right from the start and for me it was a funny appointment to make.

"I still believe he can go on and become a good manager - he's proven at youth-team level he can be tactically astute - but it was a big ask to come straight into that position when the team had just been relegated and the pressure was put on him to get automatic promotion."

Sky Bet makes Phelan the 1/3 favourite to take over, with his main contender being Tim Sherwood at a distant 8-1 while Ian Culverhouse (12/1) and Karl Robinson (14/1) are also outsiders.

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