Liam Manning ended Bristol City’s 17-year wait for a top six finish last season as he guided the Robins into the Championship play-offs
Norwich City are expected to complete a deal to name Bristol City boss Liam Manning as their new head coach in the coming days, Bristol Live understands.
The Robins received an official approach from the Canaries for Manning’s services on Tuesday after reports emerged over the bank holiday weekend that the Norfolk-based side were close to naming the City head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup’s successor at Carrow Road.
Manning had first been linked with the vacancy following the Reds’ play-off semi-final defeat to Sheffield United and is understood to have been Norwich’s top target ahead of former City midfielder Gary O’Neil and Jurgen Klopp’s former Liverpool assistant Pep Ljinders.
Bristol Live understands that the Canaries are also keen to bring Chris Hogg, who was Manning’s assistant head coach at MK Dons and Oxford United as well as at Ashton Gate, and James Krause, a first-team coach and analyst, to Carrow Road as well.
While the deal is expected to be completed in the coming days, no exact timeline can be provided at this stage with negotiations around compensation and release clauses still understood to be ongoing between the two clubs.
Reports from The Telegraph suggest Norwich will have to pay the Robins’ compensation in the region of £800,000 for Manning’s signature after he put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year deal at Ashton Gate in November 2023.
Despite the seemingly surprising nature of the move so soon after the end of the Reds’ most successful Championship season in 17 years, it is understood that negotiations have been amicable between all parties involved.
At this stage, City have yet to publically comment on speculation around Manning’s future, neither confirming nor denying the fact they have received an approach from Norwich through their own social channels.
Bristol Live understands the Robins intend to update supporters when possible but the logistics of such a deal mean actions at Carrow Road will impact when and how such announcements will be made.
Manning took charge at Ashton Gate in November 2023, replacing the popular Nigel Pearson in the Robins’ dugout. Having secured an 11th-place finish in his first campaign in charge in the West Country, the 39-year-old ended City’s 17-year wait for a top six Championship finish last season.
Ultimately, the Reds fell short of winning promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs as they suffered a record 6-0 aggregate defeat to Sheffield United. Should Manning’s exit be completed as expected, the 3-0 second-leg loss against Chris Wilder’s side at Bramall Lane will have been his last game in charge of the Robins.
