Who Chris Sutton thinks is to blame for Norwich City crisis - It’s not Liam Manning | OneFootball

The former Canaries striker issued his feelings on the club's decision to part with the 40-year-old

Former Norwich City striker Chris Sutton believes former manager, Liam Manning, was not the main reason behind the Canaries' dire start to the season heading into the November international break.

Norwich's opening 15 games of the current Championship season have been well-documented, as their dire form at Carrow Road continued on Saturday afternoon in what many viewed as a high-pressure encounter for Manning to save his position in the hotseat against newly-relegated and fellow recent underperformers, Leicester City.

Despite taking the lead in Norfolk through Mathias Kvistgaarden's second goal in as many games after 62 minutes, the Yellows were unable to hold on to what would have been a crucial three points and first win on home turf for the 40-year-old.

In the final 15 minutes of the encounter, Leicester were initially able to draw themselves level through Bobby De Cordova-Reid, before Jordan James' winner in the second minute of second-half stoppage time saw City succumb to a seventh defeat in seven league games under Manning at Carrow Road, meaning the writing was effectively on the wall for the hometown figure after the full-time whistle.

Indeed, that is exactly what transpired, as Manning was handed his P45 by Mark Attanasio, despite the fact the American had previously been extremely vocal in his support towards the former Bristol City boss when it came to eventually turning Norwich's short-term fortunes around.

Norwich are now going in search of their third permanent manager/head coach since May 2024 when David Wagner was dismissed despite making the play-offs, before Johannes Hoff Thorup parted company with the East Anglian club despite being handed a long-term contract of his own.

Yet, as bad as on-pitch performances and results have been, Sutton still has sympathy for Manning.

Chris Sutton issues sympathetic Liam Manning, Norwich City verdict - Ben Knapper reference made

After confirmation of Manning's exit from Carrow Road, Sutton, like a vast majority of Norwich supporters, took to social media, issuing their thoughts on a calamitous three-month period which sees the Norfolk side positioned inside the Championship's relegation zone, having taken nine points from a possible 45.

The former boss, of course, was the subject of intense criticism and pressure from the start of October onwards amid a dire run of one point in eight games, which included protests during and after a 2-0 defeat to Hull City on November 1st directed the way of himself and sporting director, Ben Knapper.

Knapper has been in his post at the club for just short of two years, having taken over in November 2023 from Stuart Webber.

With Norwich overseeing a major squad overhaul in the summer, after which the majority of Manning's 12 new recruits have failed to make serious impressions alongside pre-existing players who have also come under scrutiny, Sutton, who scored 36 goals in 119 appearances for the club, believes the 38-year-old is mostly to blame, making an indirect reference within his analysis via X on Saturday night.

"I feel really sorry for Liam Manning. A thoroughly decent guy," the pundit said.

"Essentially being the fall guy for not getting the best out of the bang average new recruits… Manning isn’t the primary reason Norwich City are in this mess…," Sutton stated.

Norwich City hierarchy will hope for swift managerial search amid Liam Manning departure

After Manning's departure, the Norwich hierarchy now have a two-week fixture gap during which they can plot a route to his eventual successor.

Football League World exclusively revealed on Sunday that the club have made contact with ex-midfielder, Gary O'Neil, in order to gauge his stance over the possibility of taking over the reins amid links to the Southampton vacancy.

The 42-year-old was most recently in charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers between August 2023 and December 2024 before he was dismissed, with the West Midlands side inside the Premier League drop-zone at the time.

Ironically, O'Neil recently endured a breakdown in talks over a Molineux return after his successor, Vitor Pereira, was sacked on November 2nd, with Rob Edwards set to rejoin his old club after being stood down from his position in charge of Middlesbrough.