Norwich City sporting director Stuart Webber admitted the club felt they “had to make a change” in explaining the sacking of Dean Smith. 

Supporters turned on Smith in the second half of a 2-0 defeat to Blackburn before the Canaries’ travelling contingent vented their frustration on the 51-year-old on Boxing Day in the wake of a 2-1 defeat to Luton Town. 

In an interview with Sky Sports, Webber conceded it was a situation the club couldn’t let continue. 

When asked about the sacking, he said: “There’s a number of factors but the atmosphere especially in the second half (against Blackburn) was difficult. It’s difficult for any player in the world to perform like that and unfortunately, Dean didn’t deserve that but that’s what happened. 

“We also had to look at performances in the main – were they at a level that we hoped they would be? There’s always mitigating factors for that. 

“When you get relegated it’s difficult to turn that mentality around after losing and you have to try and get used to winning again. 

“Ultimately when we approached the halfway point of the season, we felt we had to make a change and subsequently the performance and the fans reaction at Luton, let’s not ignore it, certainly played a part.” 

Webber admitted seeing Burnley and Sheffield United pull away at the top of the Championship also played a part in the club’s decision to part ways with Smith. 

He added: “We knew we had to do something to try and change the mood, to change the direction our season is going in. The top two have got long way away from us in the last few weeks and we’ve got to make sure we stay somewhere near them and if not, certainly not to drop out of the play-off places. 

“Could we have stuck longer? Yes. Would we have liked to have stuck longer? To be honest, yes, because we believed in Dean and what he was trying to do. 

“But when we put all the factors together and I sat with Dean it became a decision that we felt was probably in the best interests of the football club and for Dean as well at that point.”