Norwich appoint Les Ferdinand as manager

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/12/24/article-2528631-1A463EF800000578-540_634x406.jpg

Former Tottenham assistant manager agrees one year deal with Canaries

Norwich have appointed former Tottenham coach Les Ferdinand as manager. Ferdinand left Spurs after the sacking of Tim Sherwood. Sherwood was offered the Norwich job but declined to pursue the West Bromwich Albion job which Sherwood rejected due to the low pay offers for Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey. Ferdinand told press he was delighted to be the new Norwich boss.
"I'm delighted that I am the new Norwich manager. They are a good club, good support, good bunch of players who I'm sure are looking to bounce back after last season."

When asked about a potential rift with Tim Sherwood due to accepting an offer he declined, Ferdinand was quick to deny a rift and announced Sherwood would be among the coaching staff throughout the Pre-Season. "No, Tim is one of my best mates. In fact, he will be among the coaching staff while the club tour Italy which I'm chuffed about. I spoke to him last night, he was delighted for me. I asked him if he wanted to come to Italy with us and he accepted. There is no rift whatsoever." However, Chris Ramsey will not be joining the Norwich backroom staff due to accepting a job as a football pundit in the Middle East.

Ferdinand was quizzed over moves for Jordan Rhodes, Harry Kane and cousin Rio. "I knew I'd be asked about Rio. That's a story for another day I'm afraid. I did call Mauricio Pochettino to enquire about loaning Harry and I got a straight 'no' from him. I also spoke to Gary Bowyer who wanted a ridiculos price for Jordan Rhodes. Unfortunately those two players will not be joining the club but that isn't to say I've not got other targets. These were players on a large shortlist. Norwich will be doing business this summer, a few will leave and a few will come in."

Norwich favourites to win the Championship with Fulham, Derby and Wigan behind in the odds.

Norwich City sign Lewis Grabban from Bournemouth

Championship-bound Norwich City have signed striker Lewis Grabban from Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old, who scored 22 goals in the second tier last season, had a £3m release clause in the Cherries contract he signed in January.
But the Canaries have not necessarily had to match that amount.
"It's good to start a new chapter, get going again with Norwich and hopefully get promotion," he said after agreeing a three-year deal at Carrow Road.
"I've played here before and the atmosphere's been great, the fans are great. It's exciting to be a part of the club now and hopefully do well for them."
Cardiff had an offer for Grabban accepted in May, but the Welsh side have since added Javi Guerra, Federico Macheda and Adam Le Fondre to their squad.
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe confirmed the fee was a record for a Cherries player and added: "It is a huge amount of money, especially when you take into account the investment that was made in Grabs just two years ago."
Grabban enjoyed his best campaign in front of goal last season, finishing as the Championship's fourth-highest scorer.
The former Crystal Palace forward netted 21 times while in League Two with Rotherham two years ago, a haul which prompted his move to the Cherries.
He scored 13 goals in League One in the 2012-13 season to help the Dean Court side win promotion to the second tier.
But he has failed to find the net more than seven times in any of his previous campaigns, which has included loan spells at Oldham, Motherwell and Brentford, as well as a three-year stay at Millwall.
City boss Les Ferdinand, who was appointed a few days ago, added: "He will provide pace, intelligent movement and a high work ethic to the front line, and of course he showed in the Championship last season that he is capable of scoring a variety of different goals.
"Lewis possesses precisely the type of attitude, application and quality that I expect from my players, and I am really looking forward to integrating him into the squad."

Norwich City sign Kyle Lafferty from Palermo

Norwich City have completed the signing of Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty from Palermo for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old will sign a three-year deal at Carrow Road with the option of a further 12 months.
He had completed his Carrow Road medical earlier in the week, as reported by BBC Radio Norfolk.
Lafferty scored 11 times last season for the Serie B champions and had a spell at Swiss club Sion in 2012.
He started his career at Burnley, where he netted 10 goals in 83 league games, before a £3m move to Rangers in 2008.
The Enniskillen-born forward was on target nine times in 37 appearances for Northern Ireland and played 137 times during four years at Rangers, scoring 38 goals.
"Norwich is a team that wants to get promoted back to the Premier League at the first opportunity, so I'm excited to come here and start playing football for a team like this," he told the club website.
"I've played in the Championship before and I've played against Norwich, and the things I noticed about the club were the fans and the football they played.
"Speaking to the gaffer, everything he said and everything he wants me to do, it's good to have someone like that believing in me. I can't wait to get started."
Lafferty becomes Norwich boss Les Ferdinand's second signing since suffering relegation from the Premier League last season, with striker Lewis Grabban having joined from Bournemouth.

Norwich sign Rio Ferdinand on free transfer

Manager's cousin to join Canaries on one year deal with option for second

Ferdinand will be cousin Les' third signing as Norwich manager and told the media of his delight to be a Norwich player. "I'm delighted to get the deal done. It will be great to work with family but he did say there will be no special treatment. I'm here to earn clean sheets and play some games. I've played in the Premier League for a while and the league is tough, but the Championship is a league where any team can go up. It will be a tight season and I can't wait to get on the pitch."

Rio's new boss and cousin Les told the club website of his delight at signing Rio. "Rio is a world-class defender. I'm not saying that because he's family, it's the truth. Manchester United made a huge mistake in letting Rio go but their loss is our gain. He won't get any special treatment from me, as long as he performs well on the pitch it will be a win for everyone."

Very good free transfer siging! Good luck in the coming season(s)!

http://images.dailystar-uk.co.uk/dynamic/58/photos/3000/620x/32003.jpg

Norwich release Luchiano Becchio

Becchio joined Norwich in January 2013 failing to score in eleven appearances

Bechio made eleven appearances for Norwich in the Premier League scoring no goals. Becchio joined Norwich from Leeds in January 2013 in a swap deal for Steve Morison. Becchio failed to score during his time at Carrow Road and new manager Les Ferdinand attempted to sell but found no buyers. A club statement was released on the club website:

Norwich City can confirm that striker Luchiano Becchio's contract has been terminated by mutual consent. Becchio joined Norwich from Leeds in January 2013 scoring no goals in eleven games. Unfortunately, Becchio was not part of the first team plans for the upcoming season so the club offered him a chance to leave the club to find first team football.
The club wish Luchiano the best of luck in his future endeavours

Good luck!

Great start! I have always had a soft spot for Norwich, I will be following!

Norwich reject £5 million bid for Joshua Murphy

Les Ferdinand says he gave Spurs a 'straight no'

Norwich have rejected a bid of five million pounds from Tottenham for Joshua Murphy. Murphy was brought into the first team by new manager Les Ferdinand. Ferdinand told reporters that he gave Mauricio Pochettino a straight 'no' before politely ending the phone call.
"Pochettino called me, don't know how he got my number. Well to be straight it was his translator, they asked me how much Josh would cost, I told them he was not for sale. They offered an unacceptable amount and I told them no. I made my excuses and hung up."

Norwich sign Jason Holt from Hearts

Norwich have announced the signing of Scottish midfielder Jason Holt from Hearts for an undisclosed fee.

Norwich have confirmed that Hearts midfielder Jason Holt has signed a two year deal with the club. The Canaries did not disclose the fee, but it is believed to be around £350,000.

This is believed to be Norwich's final signing of the summer. Norwich were in the market for Tony Watt with a fee being agreed but the board had to cancel the deal to insufficient funds. Les Ferdinand told the press, "I'm delighted Jason is here, he is a promising midfielder. He can play in the Championship, he'll end up in the Premier League, he is a promising youngster. He will be going straight into the first team, hopefully he'll be in and around it throughout the season."

Holt told the press that he believed Norwich will be automatically promoted and that he intends to be at the Canaries for the long run. "I'm delighted to get the deal done, when Norwich came calling I spoke to my agent and the manager, I was waiting for a fee to be agreed, I spoke to the manager, he wanted me to be part of his project for the club, the team have potential to be a top half Premier League side in the years to come, I couldn't turn that down."

Good results, how will you be using Gary Hooper during the season?

2014-07-01 23:40#182354 Griffo : Good results, how will you be using Gary Hooper during the season?

Hooper will be rotated along with Ricky Van Wolfswinkel. I am considering training the team to play a 4-4-2 so I can use all four strikers.