Norwich City appoints Neil Adams as manager on a three-year deal
Neil Adams has been handed the Norwich City managerial reins on a three-year deal.
The former City player was thrust into a caretaker role at the end of the recent Premier League season after the sacking of Chris Hughton, but he was unable to halt their slide into the Sky Bet Championship.
A return of one point from 15 has not deterred the Norwich board from appointing him on a full-time basis, though, particularly considering four of the games he was in charge for were against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.
The club said they were "delighted" with a statement on the club's website reading: "Neil was one of a number of candidates for the position assessed by Directors as part of a very thorough selection process.
"Throughout the process his passion for the club, his commitment to playing attractive, winning football, his hunger to succeed and his desire to continue to progress young, talented players through to the first team squad shone through.
"He has the full and unanimous support of the Board and will receive robust backing in this summer's transfer window. Announcements about coaching backroom staff will follow in due course.
"Adams took charge of the Canaries in April for the last five games of the season. In very demanding circumstances, including games against four of the biggest club sides in world football, he achieved a notable improvement in performance and attitude from the players."
The news ends speculation that former Norwich player Malky Mackay would take the job, and immediately ends suggestions Neil Lennon - fresh from leaving Celtic - was in the running.
Adams said: "It is a huge honor and I am immensely proud to be confirmed as the manager going forward, and work starts straight away on putting into place the necessary requirements for next season.
"The priority is to ensure that attacking, attractive and winning football is once again the norm for supporters of this club, and it is essential that we now have everyone pulling in the same direction for the challenges that lie ahead.
"I thank the Board of Directors for giving me this opportunity as well as the amazing support that I and the team received from the fans during the last five games of last season and also in the time since, and I can assure everyone that we will all be working as hard as possible to achieve our objective of returning this club back to where it belongs."
Adams made 206 appearances for Norwich as a player and had been coaching their academy.
Chief executive David McNally added: "Neil impressed us when he stepped up to the plate for the last five games of the season in the most trying of circumstances and he's continued to impress us during a very rigorous round of talks about the full-time managerial position.
"He is a very talented coach who is hungry to succeed at Norwich City, playing the kind of football we want to see. Neil will be given funds to refresh and strengthen the squad where required."
