Norwich City is one of the 'most prestigious' head coach jobs in the country, with applicants flocking to throw their hat in the ring to succeed Dean Smith, says Zoe Webber. 

The Canaries are searching for a new boss after Smith, along with his coaches Craig Shakespeare and Liam Bramley, were relieved of their duties on Tuesday after the 2-1 Boxing Day defeat to Luton Town. 

Webber has revealed that decision was taken following an extensive performance review and a failed attempt to rectify the team's shortcomings under Smith's stewardship. 

After successive defeats to Blackburn and Luton, City have now pulled the trigger with Webber explaining the reasoning behind that decision in her latest programme notes ahead of the Canaries' game against Reading on Friday. 

"Dean desperately wanted to succeed as Norwich City’s head coach and we supported him in every way possible as we searched for the winning formula," she wrote in her OTBC column.

"He is an honourable man — a person with integrity, class and respect, and it is important for us to recognise these qualities.

"We were able to see first hand a person who dedicated his professional life to building a team that could win promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

"Dean and his coaching staff leave with our best wishes and we hope that, in time, he will look forward to returning to our home as a guest of the club, or in his capacity as head coach of another team. He is a good man and we maintain a great deal of affection for him.

"These are always very difficult decisions to make for a football club’s board and it was only made after a thorough review of performances and after exhausting all the potential possibilities to put things right with Dean in charge.

"We know that in this interim period we are in safe hands with Steve Weaver, our head of football development, and Allan Russell, our set-piece coach."

The aim now will be to appoint a new head coach as soon as possible, with Allan Russell and Steve Weaver placed in interim charge for matches against the Royals and Watford on Monday. 

Norwich are hoping to make a quick appointment with David Wagner, Chris Wilder and Hamburg boss Tim Walter all linked with the vacancy. 

Webber believes the club have a golden opportunity to inject some momentum into their season, stating that the quality of applications so far reiterates how attractive the job is at Carrow Road. 

"This is a prestigious job and the quality of applicants reinforces our belief that this is one of the most respected coaching positions in English football.

"It is a unique position for the next head coach to inherit because they will be taking over a team that is still in contention near the top of the table.

"Their goal will be to unite the fanbase and give the team a vital lift in the remaining months of the season.

Eastern Daily Press: Dean Smith was sacked as Norwich City head coach earlier this week.Dean Smith was sacked as Norwich City head coach earlier this week. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

"We believe that this can be done," Webber said.

"With your total support we are convinced that our objectives can still be achieved this season.

"We have a passionate and loyal fanbase, and we want to reward this by asserting ourselves and dominating matches, particularly at Carrow Road."