“Norwich City’s Next Boss? Championship Rival and Ex-Premier League Manager in the Frame as Pressure Mounts!”

“Norwich City’s Next Boss? Championship Rival and Ex-Premier League Manager in the Frame as Pressure Mounts!”

Norwich City Reportedly Preparing List of Potential Replacements for Liam Manning

Norwich City are said to have identified several possible successors for manager Liam Manning amid their disappointing start to the 2025/26 season.

The Canaries have managed just two wins from their opening ten league fixtures, leaving them 20th in the Championship table.

There were significant changes at Carrow Road over the summer, with Manning’s appointment as head coach generating optimism among supporters.

The former Bristol City boss had guided the Robins—operating on a far smaller budget—to the play-offs for the first time in 17 years.

Given Norwich’s stronger squad and financial resources, expectations were high that Manning could replicate or even surpass that achievement. However, the team have struggled to find form and are currently on a six-game winless run in the league.

As Norwich drift further from play-off contention, speculation has begun to grow over a potential managerial change.

Mark Robins Among Reported Candidates

Pressure on Manning has increased due to the team’s poor run of results. Should Norwich decide that a change is necessary, acting quickly could help prevent them from slipping further behind the top six.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey on X, the club are prepared to part ways with Manning and already have a shortlist of potential replacements.

The reported candidates include Mark Robins, Gary O’Neil, and Danny Röhl, with Stoke City’s Robins emerging as the preferred option.

Bailey reports that Robins’ contract with Stoke contains a release clause. The 55-year-old took over at the bet365 Stadium in January, shortly after ending a seven-year spell as Coventry City manager.

Under his guidance, Stoke have enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, earning points in eight of their first ten matches and currently sitting third in the table.

Securing Robins Could Prove Difficult

While Norwich may view Robins as their ideal replacement, luring him away from Stoke could be challenging.

The Potters are enjoying their best start to a season since their 2018 Premier League relegation and will be eager to maintain that momentum.

Losing Robins would represent a major setback for Stoke, potentially affecting team morale and on-field performance.

Although a release clause might simplify negotiations for Norwich, the manager’s willingness to leave a high-flying side for a struggling one would be crucial to any deal.

As a result, Norwich may ultimately need to consider other names on their shortlist if they choose to part company with Manning.