Norwich City sacked Johannes Hoff Thorup last month and put Jack Wilshere in charge as interim manager, but while the ex-Arsenal star has made a great impression at Carrow Road, he won’t be taking over full time
Jack Wilshere has been told he won’t be getting the permanent Norwich City job despite leading the team as caretaker for the final two games of their season. Wilshere joined the Canaries as a first team coach in October before taking the reigns when Johannes Hoff Thorup was sacked last month.
Wilshere has been a popular member of staff at Carrow Road this season after previously working at Arsenal as a youth coach and he has been tipped for a career in management.
He oversaw a goalless draw against Middlesbrough and a 4-2 win over Cardiff to help Norwich finish in 13th place, missing out on the play-offs by 11 points.
And it appears Norwich are keen to secure a more experienced manager who can catapult them towards promotion rather than take a gamble on Wilshere.
The club’s sporting director Ben Knapper said Wilshere would be a fine manager one day but said their search for a new manager would be “focused externally”.
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Knapper told BBC Radio Norfolk:”Jack is a fantastic person, he and I have a big history together,” said Knapper, who worked at Arsenal when Wilshere was a player there.
“He’s a great coach and will be a fantastic head coach, but that’s not going to be here at this particular moment in time. Naturally he’s disappointed. He’s super-ambitious, and he should be, but for where we are right now and the context, we’re focussing externally.
“The emotional part, the romantic part of me would love to make that decision but my job is to not get wrapped up in emotion and to make cool, objective decisions.”
Wilshere appeared to have support from his playing group after defender Jack Stacey tipped him to land the role. He said: “Personally, and I think I can speak for all of the changing room, I think we’d be delighted for Jack to get it. The way he’s come in and instilled confidence into individual players, it makes you want to do well for him and feel you can perform to your best.”
But Wilshere previously distanced himself from taking over full time and suggested that another head coach would be drafted in, saying it would be effective the new appointment was made as quickly as possible.
“I’ve had a lot of chats with Ben this week about a lot of things,” he said. “(Clarity) is the best for everyone. This wasn’t the plan, for Johannes to leave, but you have to adapt. If we can get it done quickly, it will be good for everyone.
“If Ben and the club can get it done quick, the club will be happy. Whoever the head coach is coming in, they will want to assess the squad and see who is moving to take it from there.”
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