Norwich City have confirmed the appointment of Chris Hughton as their new manager, and he is looking forward to facing the challenges which lie ahead.
Canaries turn to former Newcastle and Birmingham boss
Norwich City have confirmed the appointment of Chris Hughton as their new manager, and he is looking forward to facing the challenges which lie ahead.
The Canaries found themselves without a manager following Paul Lambert's decision to take the reins at Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
They have wasted little time in bringing in a replacement for the man who took them from the foot of League One and cemented them back inside the top flight.
Hughton was quickly identified as a leading contender for the role, having impressed during spells at Newcastle and Birmingham.
He led the Magpies to the Championship title during his time at St James' Park and guided the Blues to the second-tier play-offs in 2011/12.
Norwich believe he is the ideal candidate to build on the foundations put down by Lambert, with the Norfolk-based club determined to stick with their footballing philosophy and sensible financial approach.
Excited
Hughton is delighted to have been offered the opportunity to return to top-flight management at Carrow Road, telling
Sky Sports News HD: "It's a good feeling. It's something I've been very excited about and something that has materialised over the last couple of days - it's been very speedily dealt with, which I'm delighted about. I'm looking forward to the challenge in front of me.
"It's a wonderful job in the Premier League and is one that very much excited me. But I shall forever be grateful to Birmingham for the time I spent there."
Asked if he considers himself to have unfinished business in the Premier League given the manner in which he was shown to the door at Newcastle in December 2010, Hughton added: "Not really. You can only look back at what you've achieved and if you can look at yourself and feel that you have done the best job that you can, it's part and parcel of the game.
"I have got fond memories of my time at Newcastle. I think we all move on, move forward and look for another challenge. That challenge took me to Birmingham and that challenge now takes me to Norwich."
Hughton appreciates that he faces a tough task following in the footsteps of Lambert, a man who enjoyed so much success at Carrow Road.
Progress
He said: "The job that Paul has done here and the club have done here in the last few years, it's a wonderful achievement to rise from the third division, through the Championship and into the Premier League.
"For somebody in management, it's a tough task and everyone appreciates the job he has done here. It's a hard act to follow but it's about a challenge and it's about making progress as football club.
"It's about stability in this division, making progress and with every new manager and new player comes a new challenge. That's what I have got to look forward to."
Hughton has also confirmed that he will be bringing his own backroom team with him from Birmingham.
He said: "Colin Calderwood, who was with me at Newcastle, Paul Trollope, who was with me at Birmingham, and Ewan Chester, who was also with me at Birmingham.
"I think we have managed to finalise them and I am absolutely delighted because they are a good staff and they will all look to work as hard as I will to achieve what we would like to achieve here."
