Chris Sutton has delivered a scathing assessment of Norwich City’s decision to sack head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup just ten months into what was sold as a long-term project, describing the move as one that “raises more questions than answers” and accusing the club of panicking at the first sign of trouble.
Sutton, a former Norwich striker and lifelong fan, didn’t hold back in his criticism of sporting director Ben Knapper, who appointed Thorup last summer following a comprehensive recruitment process. At the time, the club made it clear that Thorup was a developmental coach, not a quick-fix hire—someone chosen for his ability to build a youthful, progressive side over time.
“How long does a long-term project in football last?” Sutton asked pointedly. “It seems the answer is 10 months.”
He accused Knapper of abandoning the very philosophy he sold to the fanbase—and to Thorup. “You can’t have a long-term strategy that supporters have bought into… and then suddenly pull the plug on a head coach that you identified as part of a prolonged process.”
The suddenness of the dismissal has clearly rattled Sutton, who expressed disbelief at the timing. “There was no inkling of this happening. What on earth has happened for Knapper to make this decision so quickly? Was it pressure from above? Has he seen something deeper that he didn’t like?”
He then hit out at what he perceives to be a lack of conviction from the man tasked with reshaping Norwich’s identity. “Perhaps it can be explained far easier – it feels like Knapper has lost his bottle. The first sign of trouble and he’s sacked his man.”
Sutton echoed what many fans are thinking: that this move undermines any trust in the supposed “plan.” “It paints the picture externally that the club’s hierarchy aren’t on the same page as their head coach. That’s hugely concerning.”
The inconsistency in messaging from the club also came under fire. Sutton noted how Thorup consistently talked about long-term growth, while programme notes from executive Zoe Webber recently referenced the goal of reaching the top six—an objective never publicly stated earlier in the campaign.
“Everybody has their aims and ambitions, and I get that,” Sutton said. “But it was never realistic for Norwich this season unless everything came together.”
Sutton believes the board has wasted the season by pulling the plug too early on a coach who was only just starting to implement the promised new style of play. “Whether people like the plan or not, it was a plan—and most Norwich City fans actually bought into it. I bought into it.”
With £30m spent on young players and a clear shift toward youth development, the expectation for instant success was always unrealistic. Sutton questions whether any future coach can feel safe in a structure that pretends to be long-term but acts in panic.
“What’s the remit for the new manager? If it’s results driven, are they going to abandon the model again? If the next head coach fails to reach the play-offs next season, will they get sacked too?”
On the appointment of Jack Wilshere as interim coach for the final two matches, Sutton is equally dismissive. “It’s not an audition for two games. You’re not going to learn anything new. If you wanted to hire him permanently, why not do it now?”
Sutton called the entire saga “wholly avoidable and chaotic,” and warned that Knapper’s credibility is now firmly on the line. “The pressure is now on Knapper to get the next appointment right, or the fingers will rightly begin to turn towards him.”
His final verdict? Norwich’s handling of the Thorup situation has not only destabilised the team’s direction—it’s eroded belief in the people in charge. “You can’t have a long-term plan that is short-lived based on results. That’s everything that’s wrong about football.”
In other news, A Portsmouth manager addresses concerns about the future as West Brom and Norwich City look for new managers.
