Former England Under-19
coach Martin Hunter was named as Norwich's new first team coach
on June 16th 2006, and took up the role ten days later when the
Canaries returned for pre-season training.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for me," Hunter
told Norwich City's official website. "Norwich City is
a very ambitious club and I was very impressed with the way things
are run. I very much enjoy the day-to-day element of working with
the players so I'm very much looking forward to taking my first
session with the club on June 26. I've had two or three other
offers to return to club football, but this offer was too good
an opportunity to turn down."
Norwich City manager Nigel Worthington
believed the Canaries would benefit from Hunter's vast experience
in the game. "We're delighted we've been able to secure
the services of Martin Hunter. He is a person I have admired for
a long time and somebody who will be of great value to myself
and Norwich City. He will bring a wealth of ideas and lots of
enthusiasm."
Hunter had been with the FA for the past 13 years, working his
way up from a regional director of coaching. Before that he was
assistant manager at Bradford and Stoke. Whilst with the England
Youth Team, he coached the likes of Joe Cole, Theo Walcott and
Michael Carrick, not to mention Norwich's Ryan
Jarvis, Ian Henderson and
Joe Lewis.
When Nigel Worthington was sacked on 2nd October 2006, following
the diabolical televised 4-1 home defeat to Burnley, Martin was
placed in temporary control of the first team. The permanent position
went to Peter Grant
On 17th June 2007, The People reported that new Wigan
manager Chris Hutchings wants to bring Hunter to Wigan as his
number two. This was dismissed by Hunter but a month later, Hunter
was absent from Norwich's pre-season tour of Holland. Peter Grant
explained that ""I got a phonecall from Aidy
Boothroyd on Thursday evening asking me for permission to
speak to Martin. I think that was after the horse had bolted,
really, because I think that talk had been going on. If
people show an inkling of not wanting to be here any longer, I
don't give them very much time here. I think it's the right thing.
Martin will move on, to Watford probably.
Martin's move to Watford was completed on 25th July 2007 with
compensation paid to Norwich. He will share the first team coach's
position with Malky Mackay.