DAVID CUFFLEY The Canaries have already drawn up a short list of candidates for the job of first-team coach after Steve Foley was axed from the post. Nigel Worthington said: “I have got a shortlist, we're in the process of going through that."

DAVID CUFFLEY

The Canaries have already drawn up a short list of candidates for the job of first-team coach after Steve Foley was axed from the post yesterday.

Manager Nigel Worthington said today: “I have got a short list, we're in the process of going through that.

“There may not be an announcement for a little while but we've got to make sure we get the right man for the job and get things in place for the start of pre-season training.

“We want to freshen things up with a new face, a new voice.”

No other changes to the coaching staff were planned, he said.

The 52-year-old Foley was summoned to a meeting with Worthington and chief executive Neil Doncaster yesterday to be told his 10-year stay at Carrow Road was over.

Foley joined the coaching staff in 1996 during Mike Walker's second spell as manager and moved up from reserve team boss to first-team coach when Worthington succeeded Bryan Hamilton as manager in 2001.

Doncaster confirmed Foley had been told of the decision yesterday morning.

He said: "Steve was asked to attend a meeting with myself and the manager, Nigel Worthington. He then went to Colney to see members of staff.

"There is nothing I can really add to the statement. We don't want to set a date for the new appointment because it builds up to expectation. We just want to get on with it."

City have at least one potential candidate on the current staff in former assistant manager David Williams, now youth coach and technical director, but whether he would wish to return to first-team picture is unclear. If they look further afield, a popular choice might be former City midfielder Ian Crook, still based in Australia as Sydney FC assistant boss, but more than once having expressed an interest in returning to England.

Worthington rejected fans' claims that Foley had been made the “scapegoat” for a season in which City finished ninth in the Coca-Cola Championship after being made promotion favourites by the bookmakers.

He said: “It's a decision that's got to be made. Everybody's entitled to their opinion and they can live with those opinions. I've got a job to do and I've got to do what's right for the football club.”

Club captain Craig Fleming said: "Steve was here when I arrived and on behalf of the players, I'd like to thank him for all the hard work he's put in with the players on the training ground for the best part of 10 years."