Norwich City won’t “gamble” in appointing their next head coach, according to Neil Warnock. 

David Wagner remains the bookies’ favourite to replace Dean Smith, who was sacked last week, and the fact he is a known quantity for sporting director Stuart Webber could give the German the edge. 

Wagner and Webber worked successfully together at Huddersfield, helping the Terriers get promoted to the Premier League, and Warnock believes the 51-year-old could hit the ground running at Carrow Road. 

“There’s no way he (Webber) wants to gamble now,” said Warnock, who retired after 42 years of management in April 2022. “I think by knowing somebody that he’s worked with then it ticks all the boxes. 

“There will be somebody in for the FA Cup – that's not vital for them that FA Cup game (against Blackburn) and it will give the new manager a good start for a week.” 

Webber revealed in an interview with Sky Sports that he wants the new man to be able to establish a connection with the City fanbase in the way Daniel Farke managed to during his time at the club. 

Wagner certainly established an affinity with the Huddersfield fans after leading the Terriers to promotion and then keeping them in the top-flight for a season. 

His next move to Schalke didn’t work out so well as he was sacked following 18 matches without a win. A move to Young Boys followed in June 2021 after a move to West Brom fell through but after his side finished 15 points behind FC Zurich he was dismissed. 

Wagner’s Huddersfield side certainly had a dynamism about it in the second tier and Warnock hopes whoever the new man is can bring back the feelgood factor to everyone at Carrow Road. 

Norwich Evening News: Neil Warnock believes that David Wagner could be the right man for Norwich City.Neil Warnock believes that David Wagner could be the right man for Norwich City. (Image: PA)

“They’re too predictable at the moment,” he added. “It needs a manager to go in there and encourage the lads that have got that bit of ability because everything is negative at the minute, the fans are negative and everyone else is. 

“It needs that change around and it just shows you with Middlesbrough and West Brom, they’ve had great runs. The two of them really look like they are going to challenge in the second half of the season. 

“Norwich want to be there with them so that’s why they’ve made the change.”