Norwich sack Alex Neil as the club put Alan Pardew and Simon Grayson in the frame for a summer appointment

Norwich's five-game winless run has seen the club call time on Alex Neil's tenure at the club.

Alan Irvine will take charge on Saturday as Blackburn travel to Carrow Road, the first team coach looks set to stay in charge until the season with the club to look for a permanent manager in the summer. Sportsmail understands that Alan Pardew and Simon Grayson are two names interesting the Canaries.

The side relegated from the Premier League last season are nine points and two spots outside of the play-offs and an insurmountable 21 points off the automatic places.

A statement on the Norwich website said: 'Norwich City can confirm manager Alex Neil's contract has been terminated with immediate effect. 

Norwich's five-game winless run has seen the club call time on Alex Neil's tenure at the club

The side relegated from the Premier League last season are nine points outside of the play-offs

'The Board has taken the tough but unanimous decision, believing it is in the best interests of the Club for a new manager to be in place through a crucial summer transfer window and into next season. 

'The Directors would like to place on record their sincere gratitude to Alex for all of his hard work and for the fantastic achievement of guiding us to the Premier League in 2015, via a memorable play-off final success against Middlesbrough at Wembley.