Liam Manning might have avoided Mark Attanasio u-turn at Norwich City for now | OneFootball

Norwich City manager Liam Manning may have bought himself more time to keep his job

Norwich City manager Liam Manning may have earned himself a lifeline following his side’s draw against Sheffield Wednesday.

Heading into the 2025/26 Championship campaign, hopes were high over what Norwich City could achieve under their new boss, following a disappointing end to the previous term.

Manning had earned many plaudits for carrying Bristol City to their first Championship play-off finish in 17 years, competing against sides with much bigger budgets. Coupled with the bonus of keeping star forward Josh Sargent at the club, there was real reason for hope to build at Carrow Road ahead of the campaign.

However, things have turned out to unfold in quite the opposite direction for Norwich. Instead of returning to the play-off hunt, they’ve been one of the second-tier’s biggest disappointments.

After 14 matches, the Canaries have been defeated nine times and have won just twice during that spell, leaving them 22nd and four points adrift from safety.

Below them are only the two Steel City sides, with Sheffield Wednesday’s lowly league position understandable due to being placed into administration. If it wasn’t for the Owls’ 12-point deduction, Norwich would be just a single point above the bottom of the league.

Sheffield Wednesday draw may have saved Liam Manning’s Norwich City job for now

Norwich City have already backed Manning publicly despite this poor form and remain insistent that he is their man, but if results continue in this downward trend, they may have no choice but to make a decision on his future.

A defeat against Sheffield Wednesday would have been a damning indictment of how bad things had got at Carrow Road, leaving them even further adrift of safety and bottom of the table without Wednesday’s point deduction.

This scenario looked like becoming reality when Barry Bannan struck home after four minutes in front of a packed-out Hillsborough crowd, with the contest appearing to be Manning’s final act as the Canaries’ boss.

However, the Norfolk side slowly worked their way back into the game and were level just after the hour mark, when summer signing Mathias Kvistgaarden scored from close range.

In the end, the points were shared and Norwich avoided the embarrassment of defeat to a team who were unable to spend any money on transfer fees during the summer and is currently in an administrative state.

If Norwich had been defeated in the Steel City, Mark Attanasio may have had no choice but to relieve Manning of his duties and use the November international break as a perfect opportunity to install a new manager.

As it happens, the Norfolk outfit fought back to get a point and the 40-year-old has more opportunities to turn things around. If Manning does turn things around in the next few matches and keeps his job, Kvistgaarden’s equaliser at Hillsborough could be looked back upon as a crucial turning point.

Leicester City clash is crucial for Liam Manning’s future

Although the Canaries avoided defeat at Hillsborough, Manning has no time to rest on his laurels.

Up next is a home clash against Leicester City, which could have huge ramifications for a large number of reasons.

The Foxes’ boss, Marti Cifuentes, is also under immense pressure, as the King Power Stadium outfit have won just once in their last 10 Championship outings, a run that stretches back to late August.

It could be argued that whoever comes out worse in that clash may face the sack, whilst it would represent a massive three points for the victor.

Manning is under slightly more pressure due to Norwich’s current position in the relegation zone, but will have to go all in on victory and try to capitalise on Cifuentes’ similarly precarious position.

If the Canaries’ boss can take an important win into the international break, it would do everyone involved with Norwich the world of good and provide them with a perfect platform to build on once returning to domestic football.