Norwich City have sacked Dean Smith.
The former Aston Villa manager, who oversaw the side’s relegation from the Premier League last season, has been dismissed following the Canaries’ 2-1 loss to Luton Town in the Championship on Boxing Day. That result meant Norwich have won just three of their last 13 league games - losing three of their last four - despite still sitting fifth in the Championship table.
But Smith has struggled to impress the Carrow Road masses during his 13 months at the helm, and a number of disappointing recent displays had seen a large section of supporters become increasingly vocal with their displeasure. And that has led to majority shareholder Delia Smith and husband Michael Wynn-Jones to make the decision to axe Smith and his assistant, Craig Shakespeare, in a bid to save the side’s ailing promotion hopes.
The 51-year-old was informed during talks with the club's top brass on Tuesday that a decision had been made to part ways. He won just 16 of his 58 matches in charge.
Supporters had vociferously called for Smith's departure during Monday night's loss at 10-man Luton, the latest signs of growing tension between the club's manager and a fan base who had grown increasingly frustrated by an oft-conservative approach - in stark contrast to predecessor Daniel Farke..
Both sets of fans joined in chants of 'Sacked in the morning' at Kenilworth Road, while Smith had recently made the decision to keep his family away from matches also, something he expanded on post game.
When asked post-match if this had been his toughest spell as a manager, Smith said: "Yeah, probably in football in general. I've not suffered that experience before. It's not nice. Unfortunately, everyone has decided that they are allowed an opinion on managers.
"I would be silly to bring my family in to face that. I don't want to see my mother, a 79-year-old, windmilling people so I will keep them away from that.
"Have you heard that at Norwich before? Listen, it's not nice. I put myself in a position where I want to be the head coach of a football club and I think that I'm good at it. Unfortunately, because things have gone against us recently I'm the villain."
Ex-Brentford and Walsall boss Smith had insisted on Monday night that he still believed he was the right man for the job in East Anglia and could turn things around.
He added: "I will keep working until I'm told not to work. Do I think we can turn it around? Yes but it's going to be difficult because I understand the fans' frustrations at the moment. I've got ears and I can hear what is being said. We will keep working hard.
"I've done it many times before. I've always backed myself and when I'm backed into a corner I come out fighting, always have done. It is my plan to continue to do so.
"I sit down with [sporting director] Stuart (Webber) everyday. We speak everyday. Today won't be any different. Tomorrow won't be any different.
"If the club decide that they want to go in a different direction then that is up to the football club. We have really good communication lines and hopefully that continues."
Norwich are back in league action on Friday with a home match against Reading. They sit 12 points behind league leaders Burnley. Former club captain Russell Martin has already been mooted as a potential replacement.
