Hughton takes Norwich post, eyes Holt stay

Chris Hughton has been confirmed as the new Norwich City manager and says he intends to retain the services of club captain Grant Holt.

The 53-year-old has signed a contract with the club after a compensation package was agreed with Birmingham City, who he led to the Championship play-offs last season.

Hughton replaces Paul Lambert, who resigned from the Norwich post to take over the managerial reigns at Aston Villa.

At his unveiling on Thursday, Hughton said securing the services of club captain and top scorer Holt was his first priority.

Holt has signalled his intention to leave Carrow Road in the off-season.

“To score the goals that he (Holt) did last season, I don’t think there would be any manager coming in here who wouldn’t want to keep a player of that quality,” Hughton told reporters.

“But I have only been through the door a few minutes. I haven’t had an opportunity to speak with him.”

“I need the opportunity to sit down and chat with him but he’s a player contracted to this football club, he’s been player of the year for the last three seasons so I am very conscious of what he means for this club and absolutely I would like him here.”

Before taking control of Birmingham Hughton had a largely successful time at Newcastle United, getting them promoted into the Premier League.

He took Newcastle to 11th in the table the following season but was sacked in December 2010 after a 3-1 loss to West Brom.