Norwich skipper Jason Shackell admitted the players let down departed manager Peter Grant.

Norwich skipper Jason Shackell admitted the players let down departed manager Peter Grant.

Shackell delivered his honest assessment in the wake of Grant's exit following the 1-0 defeat at Championship bottom club QPR on Monday.

“I'm disappointed,” he said. “He was a nice man and I got on with him well as a lot of the boys did. There's a general feeling of disappointment. He has been under pressure. There has been a lot of talk in the papers and we knew it was a big game and we let him down, we've let him down most of the season to be honest. We shouldn't be in the relegation zone with the squad that we have, but we are and it's not good enough from our point of view.

“It's simple - we didn't play well enough, we didn't get the results as our league position shows. With the players in our squad we shouldn't be there it's as simple as that.”

Grant's summer midfield recruit Darel Russell believes the Scot would have turned things around given time.

“Over the last couple of weeks I think Peter was trying to get the right formula, changing a few bits and pieces, just trying to get the right mix and the right blend,” he said. “I think he would have come good in the end, but obviously time wasn't on his side and this situation has occurred.

“Obviously it was disappointing for him, because he was preparing and doing everything that he could do. Peter is what you would call an ultimate professional. He did everything right and was extremely detailed. He would be in very early in the mornings and staying late into the evenings. He did everything he could do and it was probably disappointing on his front to not see it being emulated on the pitch.”

The one time Carrow Road trainee admitted City's squad had under performed too often this season.

“I just think on matchdays too many players under-performed on too many occasions,” he admitted. “I think we need to look at ourselves as players rather than at the manager. He prepared us as best as he possibly could do for each game. I've worked under different managers and there aren't many that I could say prepare you as well as Peter has done and in such detail for a match situation.

“We haven't put what we've been taught into practice and obviously that has been disappointing and that's what has caused the bad results. I think a few of our players need to have a look at ourselves as I think we are as much to blame.”