Bristol City boss Liam Manning lured by Norwich approach despite “bond” with Robins

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Bristol City Head Coach Liam Manning is set to be tempted away from Ashton Gate by Norwich CIty, who have made an official approach for the Robins boss. Daniel Wales reports.

Transcript

00:00Now for Bristol City, obviously staring at the back of a fantastic season

00:05delivered under Liam Manning.

00:07He is news that he could be possibly departing the club.

00:11Now, there must be some underlying issues here in terms of investment,

00:15in terms of projects moving forward.

00:17First time in 17 years that they've reached the top six in the Championship,

00:21an incredibly tough division to get out of.

00:23Probably the toughest in Europe, for sure.

00:27An amazing job delivered, especially if you look 2025.

00:32Bristol City were one of the standout outfits in an incredibly tough division again.

00:37But then suddenly, season ends and Liam Manning, you think,

00:41will go straight into the new season with so much confidence.

00:45Maybe that's not the case.

00:46Norwich City possibly going to be activating his release cause of around £800,000.

00:52But these are Championship rivals.

00:55These are rivals in Norwich, will have ambitions for promotion,

00:58as well as they have done in the last, you know, 10 years or so.

01:02They've been up and down quite a few times.

01:04Dan, our Bristol correspondent.

01:06Dan, just a word on the situation.

01:08Obviously, Liam Manning, a massive season.

01:11You know, he obviously quoted and said it was exhausting for him and the players,

01:14and he wanted a break.

01:15But this could change the landscape of a lot of things.

01:18What would this mean for Liam Manning?

01:19And what would it mean, most importantly, for Bristol City if he is to leave the club this summer?

01:25Well, Charles, it will certainly be a huge blow if he is to depart Ashton Gate.

01:30Certainly not a move that many people would have seen coming,

01:32especially even just a week ago,

01:34because of what he'd said in club media as well,

01:38about, you know, the connection he'd come with the fans,

01:40about praising the season that they've just had at Ashton Gate,

01:44getting into the playoffs.

01:46It really seems as if they were gearing up for a good summer

01:48and then an even better season next season at Ashton Gate.

01:54But it would appear that all this is to come crashing down.

01:57Of course, Bristol City still have the capability of doing that

01:59if recruitment is good and if someone has to replace Liam Manning,

02:03the next person also is of that ilk.

02:06But it's just frustrating if it is to happen because of the development

02:09in the bond that he's formed at the club and that isn't, you know,

02:15re-established very quickly no matter who comes in.

02:19So it will be a huge blow.

02:21Obviously, Norwich have now made that official approach.

02:25There's meant to be compensation fee in around the region

02:27of about £800,000 to Bristol City.

02:31But, of course, that pales into insignificance,

02:34given what Bristol City will lose in terms of their footballing prowess

02:38and coaching at least.

02:40So it does seem a bit of a strange one,

02:42given what has developed there this season.

02:45Although you could argue that Liam Manning doesn't tend to stay at clubs that long.

02:48He didn't stay at Oxford United that long before he then went to Bristol City.

02:53But certainly for supporters of Bristol City, not good.

02:56And it perhaps indicates that he wasn't confident of being backed in the summer,

03:02you could argue.

03:03Although is it just a case of him jumping ships?

03:05That's also another argument.

03:06We don't know the ins and outs of it.

03:08At this stage, I'm sure that might come to light in the coming weeks.

03:11But let's hear now from Liam Manning himself,

03:13speaking just a week ago about his development

03:17and the season he'd had at Bristol City,

03:20where they got into the playoffs

03:21and was so happy and was so secure with what was going on at the club.

03:27Naturally, I think, you know, when I joined the club, you could sense and feel the frustration,

03:32you know, with the fans, with, you know, in the building.

03:34I think you could just sense it.

03:36I think, and for me, the only way you change that is by the work you do

03:39and, you know, by what the fans turn up and see on a Saturday.

03:42And I think what we've shown, what we've brought is a group of lads

03:45and a group of staff that we're all in that give everything.

03:47Good days, bad days, natural, that's part of the game.

03:50But I think, you know, when I look at, you know,

03:52the vast majority of the games this season,

03:53it's not, we haven't lost games or performed poorly

03:56due to attitude, application or competing.

03:58You know, it's quite often been about quality.

04:00So I think, you know, the fans see that.

04:02The fans, you know, they get it.

04:03They're real as well, which is probably why it was, you know,

04:05nice to get the reception we got off, you know, the last two games.

04:08I think, you know, the fans saw, you know,

04:11a group that have given everything over the course of the season

04:13and, you know, continue to do in the last two games.

04:16From that interview, you probably couldn't gauge at all

04:18that he was thinking about leaving,

04:20although perhaps it even hadn't crossed his mind at that stage,

04:22even though it was only about a week ago.

04:25And yet here we are with him on the verge of leaving for Norwich City.

04:29So football does move that fast.

04:31And obviously Norwich have identified Manning as the person they want.

04:35And it looks at the moment like they're going to get him

04:38in what will be a huge blow for Bristol City.

04:43And so, we'll be right back.

04:48We'll see you next time.

04:49We'll see you next time.

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