BREAKING: Former Brighton Man Joins Norwich City As First Team Coach

Norwich City have confirmed highly-rated Nick Stanley has joined from Premier League Brighton as a set piece and first team coach following Andy Hughes’ summer exit.

Stanley spent 12 years with the Seagulls, five of those as a set play coach, but is now linking up with Johannes Hoff Thorup in the Dane’s backroom team.

Thorup hinted after Saturday’s Standard Liege friendly the Canaries were close to appointing a replacement for Hughes, who left to join Premier League new boys Leicester City following the departure of former head coach David Wagner.

The club’s sporting director, Ben Knapper, had made it clear at Thorup’s official unveiling once the Foxes and Brentford had targeted Hughes they would look to bring in a set piece specialist.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Nick to the club,” said Knapper, quoted on City’s official site. “He comes with some great experiences at a fantastic club in Brighton & Hove Albion, where he has worked alongside some top-class coaches.

“He will really help drive our set piece process forward as a real specialist in that area, and he can also support the broader coaching group in all aspects of team and individual development.

“We’re all excited to welcome Nick into our club and to start working with him to achieve our goals.”

Thorup brought compatriot, Glen Riddersholm with him to England, but initially inherited Hughes along with first team coach Narcis Pelach and goalkeeper coach Paul Clements.

Stanley’s background was in analysis, including head of academy performance at Brighton, before he focused on set pieces during Graham Potter’s time in charge of the Seagulls.

“He’s a young guy who is ambitious, who is very intelligent, very hard-working and is an important member of the team,” said Potter, speaking to the Argus in 2022. “Every area you are looking to improve but we have never had anybody as a specialist, if you like, looking at it.

“Nick showed a real ambition to do that and I think he has got the quality as well. He’s young so it’s not about throwing him under the bus or anything.

“It’s about helping him develop. About helping him understand the role, understand how he can help the team.

“The players are really happy with him. He’s a great guy off the pitch. He wants the team to do well. He is really important to our team and part of what we are doing here.”