DAVID CUFFLEY Ex-Canary Joe Royle will not figure in the race to become the next manager at Carrow Road - but another former Everton hero is still being touted as an outside bet for the job.

DAVID CUFFLEY

Ex-Canary Joe Royle will not figure in the race to become the next manager at Carrow Road - but another former Everton hero is still being touted as an outside bet for the job.

Claims that 58-year-old Royle was to be interviewed for the vacancy created by Peter Grant's departure eight days ago were knocked on the head last night when a source close to the one-time City player of the season confirmed there had been no contact between him and his old club. He will not even come under starter's orders.

Former England international Royle has been out of football for nearly 18 months since he and Ipswich Town agreed to part company. More than once he said the Portman Road job would be his last in the game, and it appears he is not having second thoughts.

But another Merseysider out of management for a long spell is believed to be keen to make a comeback, with Peter Reid still rated a 16-1 shot to take over at Norwich.

If he does, the 51-year-old will have at least one former colleague ready to endorse his credentials.

Evening News and Pink 'Un columnist Neil Adams, a team-mate of Reid at Everton in the 1980s, said his demand for total commitment could be just what is needed in the City dressing room.

Said Adams: “I know Peter Reid wants to get back into work. He has good managerial credentials after what he did at Sunderland. He's taken a team into the top flight and he took Manchester City to fifth from top of the old first division in his first job.”

Reid, 51, twice took Sunderland into the Premiership, in 1996 and 1999, and they were play-off finalists in 1998. However, his subsequent spells as boss at Leeds and Coventry were brief and unsuccessful and he has not managed since leaving the Sky Blues in January 2005.

“Having played with him, I know him well,” said Adams. “A lot of people will have a good idea of what he's like from watching him in that TV documentary.

“He can get players wanting to run through brick walls for him and that's what the situation needs at Norwich - they need somebody to galvanise performances.

“It's an interesting name in what is fast developing into quite a list.”

Adams, who played at Oldham under Royle during the club's most successful days, said he was disappointed - but not surprised - that his old boss would not figure in City's plans.

He said: “I'm not entirely surprised, because I interviewed him 18 months ago for BBC Radio Norfolk and he said then that Ipswich would be his last crack at management

“But I thought Norwich was the one job that might just put a twinkle in his eye, especially with Willie Donachie losing his job at Millwall and the fact that they always worked as a pair. He was a popular player here and always spoke highly of the club.

“It's a missed opportunity, not just for Norwich but a lot of teams.

“It's understandable, though. I think Joe's decision was based on his health because he's suffering for the injuries he picked up in his career and he realises it's a 24 hours a day, seven days a week job. And he has his villa in the sun.”