Experienced coach joins Alex Neil's staff

NORWICH City are delighted to confirm the appointment of Alan Irvine as First Team Coach.The 57-year-old joins City having recently departed Blackburn Rovers, where he served as assistant manager to Paul Lambert last season.Following coaching spells with Newcastle United and Everton, Irvine was appointed as manager of Preston in November 2007 and subsequently led them to Championship survival.The following season he guided Preston to the play-offs, eventually losing the semi-final 2-1 to Sheffield United on aggregate.After leaving Deepdale in December 2009, he went on to manage Sheffield Wednesday before a spell in charge of West Bromwich Albion during the 2014-15 Premier League season.City boss Alex Neil told canaries.co.uk: "Alan has worked with some top managers in his time, as well as having been a manager himself."He will bring a wealth of experience gained over the course of his career. It adds to us as a coaching team because he’s had real success at clubs."In terms of what we’ve got we’re now more diverse. He’s got a great reputation but also has the willingness and drive to be here, which is great."Having joined the Canaries’ backroom staff, Irvine added: "The most important thing is that I come in and make a contribution, and that’s what I’m looking to do."I believe the squad and management team that’s here has every chance of getting promotion. I’ve worked with quite a few of the players in the past and I’m really looking forward to doing that again."Up until recently I was working with Paul Lambert, and he always spoke very highly of the Club. Everyone from a distance has been really positive about the place and he really reinforced that."