Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday's Championship rivals sack manager after play-off humiliation

Norwich City have sacked manager David Wagner following Thursday’s humiliating 4-0 Championship play-off defeat to Leeds United.

The Canaries saw any hope of promotion to the Premier League crushed at Elland Road, with a rampant Leeds side putting them to the sword with three first-half goals before adding a fourth later on in the evening. Following the full-time whistle, those in the away end could be heard expressing their displeasure towards Wagner.

The German has been under a constant state of pressure at Carrow Road despite leading Norwich to the play-offs, but those in charge have decided to act following Thursday’s crushing blow. The club confirmed their manager’s exit on Friday, less than 24 hours after the defeat.

Sporting director Ben Knapper said: “David has operated with class and dignity throughout his period as Norwich City head coach, but we now feel that the time is right for us to move in a different direction.

“We remain committed to progressing our football club, in both the short and long-term, working through a diligent and thorough strategy. The appointment of a new head coach is an important one. We will now work and continue our due diligence with the view of making an appointment in the near future.”

Speaking after Thursday’s defeat at Elland Road, Wagner said: "It is disappointing. Obviously a poor performance from us, Leeds were very good. Everything which you should not do we have done. We conceded very easy avoidable goal very early.

“The second one as well was an absolutely predictable situation. We switched off for a second and got punished. We had the situation with Josh [Sargent] where we can maybe get some positive energy back and then we concede the third. In the duels we were second best and it's a very disappointing evening, end of the season as well.

“Against Leeds away you have to stay in the game as long as you can and then you can get something, we've done more or less the opposite, conceding early, conceding three in one half, this is more or less impossible to turn around.”

In the aftermath of Thursday’s defeat, former Norwich striker Chris Sutton made a public call for change and that mindset looks to have been echoed by those in charge at Carrow Road. Arsenal coach Carlos Cuesta is among the favourites to replace Wagner, with Norwich one of several Championship teams now eyeing a new manager alongside Plymouth Argyle and Sunderland.

Norwich will face both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday next season with all three confirmed as Championship teams. United will finish rock-bottom of the Premier League regardless of their final-day result on Sunday, while Wednesday secured another year in the second-tier after an excellent run under Dany Rohl.