Manning 'the perfect choice' - ex-Norwich player Forbespublished at 11:29 26 June
11:29 26 June
Image source, BBC Radio Norfolk
Former Norwich City midfielder Adrian Forbes believes the choice of Liam Manning as head coach ahead of the new season is a "fantastic appointment".
Forbes, now sporting director of US club Texoma FC, knows Manning from coaching courses they both attended and games in which they were in charge of opposing age-group sides.
"It has to be a certain person that they employ to run that club, a person that understands Norfolk, that understands Norwich and understands the importance of managing Norwich City in a certain way and I think 100% on this appointment, they've done that," he told BBC Radio Norfolk.
"You can take away the sentiment of him being a Norfolk boy, which he is - if you're looking at someone who has the right key values and skills to manage the club in the right way, Liam's your perfect choice.
"His knowledge, his coaching detail, the way he sets his teams up, he's someone that I've watched closely...and I would like to emulate myself with what he's managed to achieve and the trajectory he's had."
Forbes added: "One thing everyone will see is Liam's management of the Norwich City players will be exceptional, and that will hopefully be transferred onto the pitch and performances as well.
"I believe 100% that this time, Norwich City have a manager that will not just bring success, but will bring a team spirit, a camaraderie and an understanding of Norfolk and Norwich that will will hopefully lead to success on the pitch."
Forbes began his career at Norwich, scoring eight goals in 121 appearances before moving to Luton Town in the summer of 2001.
Norwich target Garry to join Manning's new-look staff published at 17:21 25 June
17:21 25 June
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Ryan Garry is expected to join Norwich to join Liam Manning's staff
Norwich have targeted Lommel assistant Ryan Garry to join Liam Manning's staff at Carrow Road.
Former England Under-17 boss Garry is expected to move to Norfolk once formalities are agreed with Lommel, where he has been assistant head coach for 18 months.
Norwich have also wrapped up deals for Manning's coaches Chris Hogg and James Krause with the pair following him from Bristol City.
Canaries sporting director Ben Knapper has been tracking Garry for a while, with the pair having both worked at Arsenal, and he will complete Manning's staff.
He took charge of the final two games of the season following Johannes Thorup's sacking after joining in October.
Garry took England to the Under-17 World Cup in 2023, reaching the last 16, and was in caretaker charge of Lommel last season after Steve Bould's departure.
He has been working under Lee Johnson in Belgium since March but is now due to return to England with the Canaries.
The 41-year-old former defender started his playing career at Arsenal and made two appearances during 2002-03.
He joined Bournemouth in 2006, making 86 appearances, before being forced to retire at just 27 in 2011 due to persistent injury but stayed with the Cherries as a coach.
Norwich have also wrapped up deals for Manning's coaches Chris Hogg and James Krause with the pair following him from Bristol City.
Gossip: Norwich closing in on Medic from Ajaxpublished at 11:25 19 June
11:25 19 June
Norwich City are edging closer to the signing of Ajax centre-back Jakov Medic, 26, who spent last season on loan in the German Bundesliga with VfL Bochum, and a deal worth up to £2.5m is close to being agreed. (Sky Sports), external
Birmingham City, Hull City and Norwich are among the clubs chasing Arminia Bielefeld defender Louis Oppie, but the 23-year-old German is also attracting strong interest from Bundesliga rivals Union Berlin who have already submitted a bid. (Football Insider), external
Gossip: Norwich close to signing goalkeeper Mouldenpublished at 11:07 18 June
11:07 18 June
Norwich City are closing in on the signing of Crystal Palace goalkeeper Louie Moulden, 23, as back-up to expected number one Dan Grimshaw who was recently signed from Plymouth. (Sky Sports), external
Burnley and Leeds head PFA player award nominationspublished at 11:05 18 June
11:05 18 June
Image source, Getty Images
The PFA awards have announced a shortlist of six for their Championship Players' Player of the Year award, with promoted Burnley and Leeds United each receiving two nominations.
Clarets captain Josh Brownhill and goalkeeper James Trafford are both up for the prize, while Leeds forward Dan James and midfielder Ao Tanaka are also on the list.
The remaining two nominations have gone to Sheffield United midfielder Gustavo Hamer and Norwich City forward Borja Sainz.
The winner will be announced on 19 August at Manchester's Opera House.
"But I'm also happy my old club Norwich have signed a fantastic player."
Fotheringham said Darling is a "very talented centre-back" with a high level of experience of playing Championship football.
"He's very dominant in the air, which you would expect from his presence and his height [6ft 2in], which makes him really dangerous in both boxes," Fotheringham said.
"But his special weapon for me is his ability to play with the ball. He steps into midfield areas and finds great solutions to break lines.
"He's got really good diagonal passing - fantastic range."
Fotheringham added: "He's very much a gentleman, he's got time for people, he's very well respected around the group.
"But he also has a real edge to him. When there are any duels or 50-50s to be won, he's very much on the front foot and a very aggressive defender, which you need."
Gossip: Norwich reject £12.7m Porto bid for Sainzpublished at 12:03 16 June
12:03 16 June
Norwich City have rejected an opening bid of £12.7m from Portuguese side Porto for 18-goal forward Borja Sainz, 24, while Serie A club Napoli are also interested in signing the Spaniard. (Sky Sports), external
Lions up, Watford down? The 2025 Championship tablepublished at 12:37 10 June
12:37 10 June
Ben Ashton BBC Sport England
Image source, Getty Images
Watford are getting relegated, Plymouth are staying up, Millwall are in the play-offs and Portsmouth are also battling for a top-six spot.
Does something sound a bit off? Well, that's what would have happened if the Championship season started on 1 January.
Here's a look at the 2025 calendar year table, showing who the form sides were in the second half of the season and who went into freefall.
Perhaps the most notable difference between the actual final top six and the 2025 version is that Millwall would be in the play-offs and Premier League-bound Sunderland would not.
Burnley and Leeds still comfortably occupy the automatic promotion spots, albeit the Clarets would be unbeaten at the top of the pile with the Whites in second.
Coventry improved significantly after Frank Lampard replaced Mark Robins and are third over the course of the year.
The Sky Blues would instead be pitted against Bristol City in the play-off semi-final as opposed to Sunderland. Who knows what difference that would have made to their promotion bid...
Image source, Rex Features
Portsmouth - who spent much of the season battling relegation and only secured their Championship safety with two games to spare - are seventh and just one point outside a play-off spot.
Pompey sit above Sunderland, who lost their final five games of the season and are down in eighth.
The data perhaps shows just how long Regis Le Bris' side effectively had a play-off spot sewn up before their victory at Wembley against Sheffield United to claim promotion.
Relegation battlers Oxford find themselves seven places higher than where they actually finished in the 2024-25 campaign (17th), reflecting the good work done by Gary Rowett after he took over as boss from Des Buckingham.
Image source, Rex Features
Plymouth would have survived comfortably had the season begun in January 2025, showing a significant uptick after Miron Muslic replaced Wayne Rooney at the helm.
Middlesbrough tailed off significantly in the second half of the season, underpinning why they missed out on the play-offs. It was a drop off that ultimately cost Michael Carrick his job as head coach.
Norwich City conceded more goals (32) than any other side in 2025, which counteracted the hard work they'd done at the other end, having been the fourth top scorers (31) since the turn of the year.
Image source, Rex Features
Watford had a disappointing 2025, winning just five of their 23 games and losing 13 to finish bottom of the calendar year table.
The Hornets had the joint-worst goal difference along with Cardiff (-10) and head coach Tom Cleverley was sacked following the end of the season.
Preston and Cardiff won the fewest games of any side in 2025 (4), which cost the Bluebirds their Championship status and almost led to the Lilywhites dropping into League One as they avoided relegation by one point.
Paul Heckingbottom's side would be down if only games this year were counted.
Luton and Derby scored the fewest goals in 2025 (19) and attacking output was an issue that plagued both sides throughout the entire campaign.
It had major consequences for the Hatters with back-to-back relegations, while the Rams survived by a point - and only on goal difference in the yearly table.
And what better way to end such a momentous day than by listening to the latest edition of the Canaries' podcast, The Scrimmage, from BBC Radio Norfolk?
The team catch up with Manning and sporting director Ben Knapper.
