Neil Adams quits Norwich City head coach role after FA Cup exit

Norwich City head coach Neil Adams has resigned from his post after nine months in charge at Carrow Road with the club seventh in the Championship (10/3 promotion chances with Coral).

Former Canaries player Adams, 49, saw his side crash out of the FA Cup third round, a particularly bad habit that rankles supporters, at League One outfit Preston North End. Old teammate and ex-Manchester United coach Mike Phelan has been tipped to take over the reins (oddw-on 2/5 favourite to be the next boss), and has been placed in caretaker charge.

Managerial novice Adams initially succeeded Chris Hughton as Norwich boss on a temporary basis in April 2014 until the end of last season. He failed to win a Premier League game from the remaining few fixtures, however, and the East Anglia outfit went down.

The Canaries are 10 points shy of an automatic promotion place, but sit just three points outside a play-off spot. Adams won just over a third (34 per cent) of his 32 matches in charge, and a club statement confirmed he will return to Carrow Road in a different role in July following a break from football.

Despite walking away from Norwich, Adams said: “I firmly believe that we are still on course for a crack at promotion back to the Premier League. 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.”

Phelan is the only clear candidate for the vacancy at Norwich, having joined the club’s coaching staff in November. Tim Sherwood (4/1), another former player, was previously linked to the role last summer, but is understood to have turned down a number of other roles.