New boss in place for Bournemouth match

NORWICH City are delighted to announce the appointment of Alex Neil as the Club’s new First-Team Manager.Neil joins from Hamilton Academical, where he has overseen significant progress since assuming the role of player-manager in April 2013.This season he has guided the Accies to third place in the Scottish Premiership after earning promotion in his first full campaign in charge last year.The 33-year-old is confirmed as the Canaries’ 39th different permanent manager, and the tenth Scotsman to take the reins at Carrow Road.He said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to manage a club of the stature of Norwich – it’s an exciting challenge at a huge club and one that I’m looking forward to.“I’ve watched a lot of Premier League and Championship football over the years and I’ve always been really impressed with Carrow Road and the Norwich fans and the way they get the place going when they get behind the team.“It’s a forward-thinking club with a fantastic infrastructure and big ambition, which matches my own ambitions.“Of course I’m sad to leave Hamilton, a brilliant club which has been such a huge part of my life for so long. But when an opportunity as exciting as this with a Club like Norwich comes your way, you take it.“The aim now is simply to win as many games as possible and move Norwich City up the table.”City’s Chief Executive David McNally added: “We’re delighted that Alex has agreed to become Norwich City’s new manager and we hope he’s here for a long time.“It was important for us to have somebody who had the drive, ambition and commitment to work as hard as it takes to take the Club forward.“Lots of names were under consideration, but for us, as the Board of Norwich City Football Club, he was the unanimous choice and the first choice.”Neil joined Hamilton in 2005, combining his playing duties with the managerial role after Billy Reid’s departure. He made a total of 246 appearances for the South Lanarkshire club, earning legend status among its supporters.The Bellshill-born central midfielder previously had spells at Airdrieonians, Barnsley and Mansfield Town.He replaces Neil Adams, who resigned from the post on Monday.