“‘I Won’t Hide From It’”- Liam Manning Finally Speaks Out on Norwich’s Transfer Disaster After Latest Defeat— Fans Stunned by His Response As Is Not What They Expected

“‘I Won’t Hide From It’”- Liam Manning Finally Speaks Out on Norwich’s Transfer Disaster After Latest Defeat— Fans Stunned by His Response As Is Not What They Expected

Norwich City head coach Liam Manning has dismissed claims that the club’s struggles are solely the result of recruitment decisions made by sporting director Ben Knapper.

Manning faced renewed criticism from supporters following Saturday’s 1-0 Championship defeat to Bristol City, but frustration in the stands was also directed toward Knapper, who recently marked two years in his role at Carrow Road.

The defeat — Norwich’s sixth consecutive home loss of the season — intensified scrutiny on the club’s transfer policy.

Despite overseeing more than £50 million in player trading during his tenure and bringing in 12 senior signings over the summer, Knapper’s new recruits, including Ante Crnac and Matej Jurasek, have yet to make a major impact.

Although Knapper has balanced the books through several high-value player sales, Manning admitted after the game that Norwich’s squad still needs significant improvement.

“We know the position we’re in isn’t acceptable,” Manning said. “Spending money doesn’t guarantee success — we’ve invested, but we’ve also sold a lot of talent to make that possible.

Look at clubs like Chelsea — spending doesn’t always bring instant results, especially when you’re signing players who need time to develop.

“The squad needs work, and I won’t pretend otherwise. We’ve shown flashes of what we can do, but not enough consistency or quality. Have we got the balance right? Maybe not. But this is the group we’ve got, and it’s on us to get more out of them.”

Manning emphasized that the team’s problems are complex and not down to one individual. “There are lots of factors — recruitment, coaching, injuries, and players not performing to their potential,” he said. “We all share responsibility. We’re not where we want to be, and it’s not good enough.”

Despite the mounting pressure, the Norwich boss insisted he and Knapper are united in their efforts to turn things around. “Ben feels the same frustration I do,” Manning said. “He’ll be in early with me at the training ground trying to fix it.

“All I can do is keep my head down, keep working, and keep fighting. That’s the only way we’ll change things — until I’m told otherwise.”