'Manning will improve performances and results' - Knapper

Liam Manning's ability to overachieve and improve both performances and results were key to his arrival at Norwich City, according to sporting director Ben Knapper.

The former Bristol City boss has signed a four-year contract at Carrow Road having led the Robins to the Championship play-offs last season.

"With Liam we have someone who knows the league and has demonstrated an ability to overachieve consistently in his career so far and plays with the requisite flexibility which we lacked last year," said Knapper.

"We've followed his career and I've got some close connections to Liam as well so was aware of him before he took a head coach role but last year was a big step and drew us to him even more."

Norwich finished 13th last season, 11 points adrift of the play-offs, and sacked Johannes Hoff Thorup in April after less than a year in charge.

After leaving the role the Dane believed there were mixed messages on whether to prioritise player development over results and said he would have done some things differently.

"Had the communication from the start been that we should reach the top six and be one of the play-off clubs, then we would probably have made some other decisions along the way," Thorup told Danish sports magazine Tipsbladet.

Knapper is convinced the new boss can build a competitive squad while aligning with the club's ambitions.

"We've got big ambitions here at this club that the owners are clear about - we're all here to achieve some big things and the only way we're going to do that is with results," he said.