Norwich City have announced that they have parted company with manager Dean Smith.
Despite relegation from the Premier League in 2022-23, the Canaries were regarded as one of the favourites to earn promotion to the top flight during this campaign.
Norwich have accumulated 35 points from their 24 Championship matches, leaving the club in fifth position in the standings.
However, the East Anglian side are now 12 points adrift of the automatic promotion spots, not helped by a recent run of just four wins from 15 games.
After the defeat to Blackburn Rovers on December 17, Smith suggested that he had been left frustrated with the negative reaction of some of the club's supporters.
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That setback and subsequent comments came despite a run of 10 points from five games beforehand, and there was pressure to get Norwich back on track versus Luton Town on Boxing Day.
Norwich ultimately went down by a 2-1 scoreline at Kenilworth Road, conceding a decisive late goal despite having held a player advantage from the 80th minute.
Less than 24 hours after that game, the club's hierarchy have made the decision to sack the 51-year-old.
A statement read: "Norwich City have today parted company with head coach Dean Smith.
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"As the club continues to work towards its on-field objectives this season, the board believe that it is the right time to make this transition.
"The club's remaining coaching staff, led by Steve Weaver and Allan Russell, will take charge of first team training and our upcoming fixtures on an interim basis.
"The club will now work to identify and appoint a new head coach that is able to deliver both the level of performances required to challenge at the top end of the league whilst implementing a consistent style of play."
Smith leaves Carrow Road having won just 16 of his 56 matches in charge, with nine of his 28 defeats coming in this season's Championship.
Darren Plant
