Canaries confirm exit of U18s coach Williams

Norwich City have confirmed the exit of under-18s head coach Paul Williams due to “personal reasons”, barely a year since the former Derby and Coventry defender’s arrival.

Williams was absent from the recent FA Youth Cup fixtures at Carrow Road, missing a 3-2 win over Newcastle and a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United, with academy manager Steve Weaver in the dugout for both games.

Weaver had explained after the Newcastle game in December that the former Swansea City assistant manager had been unwell but that they hoped he would soon return.

That situation has now concluded in Williams' time at City coming to an end, having been appointed in January 2019 following David Wright's elevation to the U23s due to Matt Gill's exit for a first-team role with Ipswich.

Confirming the exit had been agreed by mutual consent this afternoon, Weaver said: "It is with much sadness that Paul leaves his position as our under-18s coach.

"I would like to place on record our sincere thanks to him for his hard work and diligence throughout his time with us. Paul brought much needed experience into the academy and has had an impact on the players, coaches and staff that have been around him.

"I would like to wish Paul all the success in the future."

Williams, speaking to City's official website, added: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the club and working with the players at the academy, but due to personal reasons it is the right time to move on.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all at the club, in particular Stuart Webber and Steve Weaver, for their support during my time here.

"It has also been a pleasure working with all of the tremendously committed staff at the academy over this last year. I of course wish everyone at the club all the very best for the future."

The 48-year-old, who had previously held academy roles at Southampton and Wolves, had said when he arrived last year: "I had a chat with Steve Weaver quite a while ago, we'd clashed heads when I was at Southampton and he was at Wolves and have got on ever since.

"I've had conversations with him a few times so when this opportunity came up it didn't take much to accept the decision and get on with things.

"Once I've got here I could see that all the work is in place to make this a very successful academy and the chance to be a part of that wasn't something I could turn down."

However, City will now be looking to confirm a new permanent U18s head coach, with the youth team second from bottom in U18 Premier League South with just one win from 14 matches this season - ahead of a game against Arsenal at Colney this afternoon.