Ex-Norwich skipper Iwan Roberts reacts to Johannes Hoff Thorup sacking

BBC News

22-04-2025

Norwich City legend Iwan Roberts has said the club's poor performances over Easter were behind the decision to sack their manager. The former club skipper made the comments following news Johannes Hoff Thorup had been dismissed by the Canaries.Talking on a BBC Radio Norfolk Canary Call special, Roberts said he had feared for the 36-year-old manager's future after the team shipped five goals during the Good Friday home loss against Portsmouth. "That's a sackable offence - conceding five goals against a team that had scored seven in their previous 12 games," Roberts said he told himself straight after the game.
"I think it's the first time Norwich have conceded five goals in the Championship at home," he said. "I'm surprised that the decision has been made with two games to go... but any manager with those kind of numbers going against him will be looking over his shoulder."Norwich followed their Good Friday loss with a 3-1 away defeat against Millwall on Easter Monday.Thomas, a former Welsh international who played for the Canaries between 1997 and 2004, said Thorup had been beset by problems during his 11-month tenure.These included injuries plaguing star players Josh Sargent and Marcelino Nunez; uncertainty around the future of first choice goalkeeper Angus Gunn, and having to bring in younger players.Roberts also said he felt Thorup believed he had three years to lift his Championship side back into the Premier League, but the fans wanted a swifter return to glory."I can only imagine you've got some big characters in that dressing room - once two or three of them go against you - some will follow. "But the big thing for me is - once the Norwich City supporters turn, and there were 3,000 there at Millwall to witness that... it's the end of the road."I think there have been inconsistencies all season and you do get that with younger players."The daft thing is they're the second top scorers in the league behind Leeds, but [have] the fifth worst defensive record."He's a very, very young man - he's at the start of his managerial career. He'll be hurting after this."
Callers to the radio special joined Roberts in also expressing surprise over the Dane's sacking so close to the end of the season.Norwich City supporter Richard Wolf said it had been a bumpy year for the club following Thorup's appointment in May 2024."Right from the word go, we said it was a transition year - I don't ever want to hear that word again, but I'm guessing it will start right again in August," he said.Another caller also questioned if the decision may have come about as a result of the recent change in ownership and management structure. Mark Attanasio's FB Norfolk Holdings Group officially became the majority shareholders in March, taking over from Delia Smith and her husband Michael Wynn Jones.Former England midfielder Jack Wilshere has been placed in charge for the final two games of the campaign. Wilshere was appointed as a first-team coach last October, having previously been manager of Arsenal's under-18 team.Canaries' fan Harvey Monk said: "Ultimately, we've got some people in place now who are looking to be a bit more cutthroat than the previous regime."Wilshere is going to have the next two games to prove himself - but it's finding someone experienced, here and now. "It's finding someone who's suited to the style, and I think Wilshere needs a little more time, but we haven't seen him in the last two games [yet]."
Analysis by Rob Butler, Canary Call host
I think Norwich fans will be quite surprised about the timing of this, but the recent results speak for themselves.Statistically since 1 March, the Canaries are the worst team in the Championship and a pair of dismal Easter results did nothing to lighten supporters' moods. Most fans would have expected Johannes Hoff Thorup to have been given the summer and another transfer window to try to get things right, but sporting director Ben Knapper has moved fast to make the change.He will now begin the process of turning City into Premier League promotion hopefuls rather than potential relegation candidates.
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