CITY can today confirm that Ian Crook has left the Club by mutual consent after expressing a desire to return to Australia to be with his family.
The 47-year-old former Carrow Road favourite has spent the last 16 months on the coaching staff, initially working as first team coach under Bryan Gunn and more recently combining his coaching duties with managing the reserve team under current City boss Paul Lambert.
Having played his part in helping the Club regain Championship status at the end of a memorable campaign the popular Crook said he felt the time was right to be reunited with his family. He told First News: "I've had a brilliant time here and I'm delighted that after the extreme disappointment of getting relegated last year that the Club had an enjoyable and successful year in my last season with them.
"After 26 years in the game I just decided I wanted to spend more time with my wife and family back in Australia. I think in the last three years I've probably seen them for less than six months and it's time to put that right.
"I've got so many fantastic memories of my times with Norwich City, both as a player back in the 80s and 90s and then of course during my recent time on the coaching staff.
"I think the future is looking really bright for Norwich now. You've a great coaching team with Paul, Ian and Gary backed up by some really top people behind the scenes at Colney and Carrow Road. You've got a top group of professionals in the squad and there's an excellent infrastructure in place and that all suggests to me there will be some exciting times ahead for the Club.
"And I've got to say a word for the Norwich fans. They have always been brilliant to me, back when I was a player and then during my recent time back at the Club. Back when I was playing we were getting maybe 16 or 17,000 - now we've got full houses every week and experiencing that has been a real joy.
"As far as the future is concerned as I say I just want to spend some quality time with the family. Would I consider another job in football? Well you can never say never but right now I'm just looking forward to spending some time at home. I would certainly like to wish everyone connected with Norwich City all the very best of luck for next season and the future."
City boss Lambert enjoyed working with Crook and paid tribute to his contribution working with the first team and the reserves. Lambert said: "I'd like to say thanks from myself and everyone else at the Club to Ian for all the help and hard work he has put in.
"He's done a great job with the reserves but he's also been a tremendous help to me and Ian and Gary in helping us to work with the players to achieve promotion this year. I fully understand he wants to go back to be with his family in Australia and wish him every success in the future."
Crook enjoyed an 11-year playing career at Carrow Road where he was widely regarded as a wonderfully talented midfield playmaker. Recruited from Tottenham Hotspur, he was one of a long list of successful bargain signings by Ken Brown during the mid-1980s.
The man who made the Canaries' midfield tick for over 10 years, he made 418 appearances for the Club was rewarded with a testimonial match against Sparta Rotterdam in August 1996. After a coaching career in Japan and Australia, Crook returned to Norwich City when he was named in former manager Bryan Gunn's backroom staff in January 2009.
