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Norwich will struggle to appoint a top manager under their current structure, says former striker Iwan Roberts.

Neil Adams quit as Canaries boss on Monday after nine months in the job.

He had been working under a football executive board, which was set up after his appointment in May.

"If they won't let that next manager have free reign where he can do what he pleases, they will struggle to get a top-class manager at the club," Roberts told 91�ȱ� Radio Norfolk.

"There is this footballing board that overlooks everything - transfers, footballing matters. That's the manager's job, let him get on with it.

"Any manager worth his salt will not work under that situation."

Mike Phelan, former assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, is in caretaker charge of the Canaries, who are seventh in the Championship, three points outside the play-off places.

Adams, 49, temporarily replaced Chris Hughton at Carrow Road in April, and even though he failed to keep them in the Premier League, was confirmed in the job in the summer.

It was announced he would work as part of the football executive board, which also includes chief executive David McNally, technical director Ricky Martin and Barry Simmonds, who heads up recruitment and scouting.

The club were eager to emphasise that Adams would have the final say on transfer decisions, but Roberts, who is Norwich's third-highest all-time scorer, with 97 goals between 1997 and 2004. believes the structure will inhibit their search for a manager.

Apart from Phelan, former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood, MK Dons manager Karl Robinson and former Norwich defender and assistant boss Ian Culverhouse are among other names who have been linked with the Carrow Road job.

"Whoever you go for, you have to let him manage," said Roberts.

"Other people have influenced Neil in making decisions and I think that's why Norwich are just outside of the play-offs.

"I don't think [former Tottenham boss] Tim Sherwood would work under that situation."