City announces Grant's exit

LORNA MARSH

Peter Grant said goodbye to Norwich City tonight after just a year in charge and following a string of defeats for the club.

The Canaries disastrous start to this season continued last night when they lost 1-0 to the Coca-Cola Championship's bottom side, Queen's Park Rangers.

A spokesman for Norwich City said Grant's departure was “by mutual consent” and followed long discussions between the then manager and the board of directors after which Grant said he felt he should step down with immediate effect.

The spokesman added the club has now reached agreement with Grant over the terms of his departure.

Jim Duffy will take temporary charge of the first team. The search for a new permanent manager will start immediately.

Grant said: “It was a very, very difficult decision for us to make but it was right for myself and the football club going forward.

“The most important things for me have always been the supporters and the club itself.

“They are the two constants while managers come and go.

“Unfortunately for me the balls haven't bounced the right way for me over the last 12 months. I have had fantastic support from the board from minute one right up until the time of leavint but we are in a results-driven business and I don't like being second-best at anything.

“I would like to thank everyone for the support they have given me through a turbulent 12 months and it goes withous sayting that I wish nothing but success for Norwich City Football Club now and forever.”

City chairman Roger Munby said the board had held a long discussion with Grant after the QPR game in which Grant had said he felt he had been supported by the club in everything he had tried to do at Carrow Road and therefore owed it to them to be honest about whether he could turn things around.

“We would like to express our heartfelt best wishes to Peter and his family and wish him and them every success for the future,” he said.