Alex Neil Confirmed As New Norwich City Boss

9 January 2015, 11:22 | Updated: 9 January 2015, 11:56

Norwich have announced Alex Neil as their new boss after he left his post as player-manager of Hamilton.

The 33-year-old succeeds Neil Adams, who resigned on Monday, at Carrow Road after helping Hamilton into the Scottish Premiership in his first full season in charge north of the border.

He leaves Hamilton third in the top flight and takes over a Norwich side who are only three points outside the Sky Bet Championship play-off spots.

Neil told Norwich's official website: "I'm absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to manage a club of the stature of Norwich - it's an exciting challenge at a huge club and one that I'm looking forward to.''

The Canaries boss credited his new employers for being "forward-thinking'' while conceding his sadness at leaving Hamilton, whom he has been with in some capacity since 2005.

"I've watched a lot of Premier League and Championship football over the years and I've always been really impressed with Carrow Road and the Norwich fans and the way they get the place going when they get behind the team,'' Neil added.

"It's a forward-thinking club with a fantastic infrastructure and big ambition, which matches my own ambitions.

"Of course I'm sad to leave Hamilton, a brilliant club which has been such a huge part of my life for so long. But when an opportunity as exciting as this with a club like Norwich comes your way, you take it.

"The aim now is simply to win as many games as possible and move Norwich City up the table.''

Norwich chief executive David McNally revealed a lengthy list of candidates were considered following Adams' surprise departure, but that Neil was the first choice.

"We're delighted that Alex has agreed to become Norwich City's new manager and we hope he's here for a long time,'' McNally added.

"It was important for us to have somebody who had the drive, ambition and commitment to work as hard as it takes to take the club forward.

"Lots of names were under consideration, but for us, as the board of Norwich City Football Club, he was the unanimous choice and the first choice.''

Neil will take charge of his first game on Saturday when Norwich travel to table-topping Bournemouth.