Alan Irvine insists Norwich City must pull out all the stops to get a sporting director and head coach in place after Wednesday's 3-0 Championship hammering at Huddersfield Town.

Irvine does not expect to be part of the new set-up at Carrow Road, with Terriers' head of football operations Stuart Webber poised to be unveiled.

'I don't think it will be me. I would expect the new sporting director, when he comes in, will have someone in mind,' said Irvine. 'I couldn't tell you when that would happen but it needs to happen sooner rather than later. I said right from the beginning I wouldn't be using these games as a job application and I have been consistent. As soon as I heard it was going to be sporting director and head coach you immediately think that comes as a package.

'I would be very surprised if the incoming sporting director wouldn't have already lined up someone to get the job. I fully understand that. All I have been told is I would be in charge until Reading. We'll see after that. If it changes between now and then I respect the club's decision.

'I didn't come here to be the manager. I didn't come here to be the caretaker manager. Caretakers should only have a limited time working with the team because players are talking about who is coming in, and the staff. It makes a difficult job even tougher. I think it would be better to resolve it quickly because whoever comes in has to assess the situation and then make decisions. There will be players out of contract or coming into option periods and someone needs to make a decision moving forward.'

Irvine refused to defend City's players after another self-inflicted away defeat against the promotion-chasing Terriers, who plundered three goals in eight minutes.

'I can't protect them on that one,' he said. 'We caved in. That is unacceptable. It is a problem and whoever comes in will have to sort that out. Mental toughness comes from within. You can't give someone resilience. They are characteristics players have to bring. They have to find a way of getting those or something else has to be done. We have done that too often this season. I said I couldn't protect the players when I spoke to them in the dressing room after the game. You try to do that as far as possible but not after this game.'