Alex Neil sacked as Norwich City manager for 'best interests of the club'

Alan Irvine will take over the team in the interim

Neil joined the Canaries in January 2015 (Getty)

Norwich have sacked manager Alex Neil "in the best interests of the club".

The 35-year-old joined the Canaries in January 2015 but, after winning promotion to the Premier League at the first attempt and then failing to stave off relegation, he leaves the club eighth in the EFL Championship.

Former West Brom boss Alan Irvine steps up from his role as first-team coach to take charge of Saturday's game against Blackburn.

A statement read: "The Board has taken the tough but unanimous decision, believing it is in the best interests of the Club for a new manager to be in place through a crucial summer transfer window and into next season."

Neil had faced the press little more than four hours before his dismissal was announced, using the opportunity to insist he was the right man to lead the club in the long term.

He also stressed his bond with joint majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones, although it appears their mind was already made up.

"One hundred per cent I believe I can take this on and do what is required," he said. "Absolutely no questions. I have no doubt in my mind about that.

"I have the utmost respect for Delia and Michael, who I have been really close to since I came here, and I will do everything in my power to make sure we turn things around and repay them, in particular, to move things forward and make things better.

"Whether it was me or anyone else, the club is more important than any one person. If the board feel I am not the right person to lead it then that is the board's prerogative.

"What I would say is in my position, knowing all the inner workings, I am the best person to lead that forward."

Norwich have won just one of their last seven matches and sit nine points off the play-off places with 10 games remaining.