Canaries fan Manning targets success on return to Carrow Road | OneFootball

New Norwich City manager Liam Manning has made it clear that his return to the club is about achieving results, not indulging nostalgia.

A lifelong Canaries fan, Manning held his first press conference since being named manager of the Championship side last week, the 39-year-old arriving at Carrow Road after leading Bristol City to the play-offs last season.

"It'll help knowing the city, the history of the club and some of the fans and former players but the biggest driver was always the club, the ambition, the project and what we're trying to achieve," he told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"It's not coming back here for niceties, it's coming back to be successful."

The 39-year-old, who once came through Norwich’s youth ranks, also held a coaching position at Ipswich Town’s academy. He later led MK Dons to a League One play-off spot in 2022 and had a short stint at Oxford United, who were second in League One when he departed to join Bristol City.

"My first live match was here, my first season ticket was here and I've got some fond memories - it's such a fantastic city, fantastic fanbase, so if you can achieve here you can be remembered, so we'll be doing everything we can to try to bring success to people," he said.

Manning acknowledged that leaving Bristol City was not a straightforward call, particularly after a sixth-place finish and the emotional backing he received following the loss of his baby son Theo last October.

"Any move you make in this game is difficult so in terms of the 18 months I had there it was successful and obviously a challenging time personally which creates a a level of affiliation and empathy with the people there," he said.

"But when we had the discussions (at Norwich) of what it looks like and the direction - knowing the club and the fanbase and the ambition here, it matches with me extremely well so it was a difficult decision, but I'm sure it's the right one."

The Canaries ended last season in 13th place, finishing 11 points adrift of the play-off spots. They parted ways with Johannes Hoff Thorup in April, making Manning the fourth full-time head coach to take charge at the club in less than four years.