Grant Holt: Norwich City tactics provoked Wigan move

Striker Grant Holt has said his disappointment with the style of Norwich City manager Chris Hughton's side influenced his departure.

The 32-year-old brought four successful seasons at Carrow Road to an end by joining Wigan this summer.

"I think everyone could see I wasn't the person I was for the past three years," he told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"On a matchday I wasn't enjoying the way we were playing - we were set up more defensively."

He added: "I was still enjoying being at the club but I wasn't enjoying the tactics."

After joining from Shrewsbury in 2009, Holt became a talisman for the Canaries, finishing top scorer in his first three seasons, contributing to promotion from League One, promotion from the Championship and survival in the Premier League, all under boss Paul Lambert.

But a transfer request in May 2012 soured the start of his fourth campaign in Norfolk and, with Hughton now in charge, Holt scored eight times, his lowest tally of his Norwich career.

"I was ready to go really. If anyone had seen the way I was last season, I always try and do it on the pitch regardless, but everyone could see I wasn't happy with the way it was going, the way the team was playing and my role in the team," he said.

"I had just had enough really. I was ready to go in January.

"I had a word with Chris Hughton. Chris said he couldn't possibly let me go and I had reassurances that if we stayed up we'd discuss it again in the summer.

"The move came for Wigan and it was an opportunity I couldn't turn down - European football, a good side that want to get promoted."

Grant Holt was talking at length on the McVeigh & Butler Show, which you can listen to again here.