Norwich City close in on Liam Manning replacement - many fans are saying the same thing about Phillipe Clement | OneFootball

Phillipe Clement is set for Carrow Road after his name entered the frame for the Canaries vacancy

Former Glasgow Rangers head coach, Phillipe Clement, is set to be installed as the latest man in charge of Norwich City.

The Belgian's name first entered the frame for the Carrow Road vacancy on Monday evening, but it has since emerged that the 51-year-old is headed for East Anglia in time for the resumption of Championship football following the November international break.

It had been a disastrous 15-game period in charge of the Canaries for their former hometown boss, Liam Manning, who was relieved of his duties after City's 2-1 defeat against Leicester City last time out, with Norwich sat 23rd in the second-tier, and they would only be one point above Sheffield Wednesday at present if the Owls weren't hit with a 12-point deduction after entering administration at the end of last month.

Several names have been linked with the post over the past week-and-a-half, including potential suggestions that one of Russell Martin or Gary O'Neil could have reunited with the club they enjoyed success with as players, before former Blackburn Rovers boss, Jon Dahl Tomasson, became a heavy favourite for the job.

However, heading into a week in which the Norfolk side take on Birmingham City at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park on Saturday afternoon, a fresh twist has occurred in a managerial saga which the duo of Mark Attanasio and Ben Knapper were hoping would be concluded ahead of the aforementioned trip to the West Midlands.

Phillipe Clement set to be announced as the latest head coach of Norwich City

As previously mentioned, hints that the former Rangers boss would become Manning's successor at Carrow Road came via The Sun on Monday night, who also stated that Tomasson was unlikely to take the job on himself, with the Dane's advisor also issuing an update via X.

However, such links only intensified on Tuesday morning, with local news outlet, the Pink'Un, John Percy of the Telegraph and Sky Sports all reporting that the Antwerp native is Carrow Road bound.

The Pink'Un claim that Clement has engaged in face-to-face discussions with majority owner, Attanasio, in London, and emerged as the American's ideal replacement for Manning after the club moved away from the aforementioned duo of Tomasson and O'Neil.

Percy's update also states that the Championship's second-bottom club, who have failed to win a single game at Carrow Road across all competitions so far this season as well as being winless since August 30th, are hopeful of making Clement's appointment official later on Tuesday, in what would be the third of Knapper's reign as sporting director after taking up the role from Stuart Webber in November 2023.

Clement has been out of work himself since February, when he was dismissed at Ibrox after 85 games in charge, where he boasted a 64 percent win record and won the Scottish League Cup in 2023/24.

Prior to his stint north of the border, he also oversaw matters at AS Monaco between January 2022 and June 2023, as well as winning three Belgian Pro League titles with Club Brugge and KRC Genk respectively, with two of those achieved with the latter.

Unsurprisingly, the breaking developments surrounding Clement's expected appointment in Norfolk have drawn mixed reactions, with some supporters believing that his list of achievements makes him a standout candidate.

Another supporter believes the Belgian should be backed to the hill regardless of the verdict held by the majority, and believes the Canaries have landed a 'coup' in the process.

Another was left relatively excited due to Clement's overall record, but has some reservations due to a tumultuous spell at Ibrox.

However, it's fair to say that not all have been left impressed.

Another Canaries fan has clearly attempted to humour himself as a result of the verdict held by others.

However, it is no surprise that such news has split opinion, as this always happens during a managerial reshuffle at any side in the EFL.

Clement will hope to restore confidence immediately, with there plenty of talent on show at Carrow Road that doesn't make for the second-worst squad in the league on paper.