HARTLEPOOL UNITED assistant manager Ian Butterworth will become Norwich City’s new No 2 later this week – provided the clubs reach an agreement over compensation, writes PAUL FRASER.

New Canaries boss Bryan Gunn wants Butterworth to become his right-hand man as he attempts to appoint a backroom staff with close ties with Carrow Road.

And Butterworth, brought to Victoria Park in 2006 by Danny Wilson who was sacked last month, is understood to be keen on taking on the new challenge.

The 44-year-old was on the Pools bench for Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round defeat to West Ham, but tomorrow night’s visit of Carlisle is likely to be his last with the club.

It appears to be an opportunity Butterworth can’t turn down, returning to the club he represented 293 times and captained during the 1993 UEFA Cup run.

And while Wilson’s departure was always going to raise question marks about his own future, Butterworth would be sad to turn his back on Victoria Park.

It remains to be seen whether a quick compensation package will be agreed. Pools were annoyed when Norwich took Paul Stephenson to Norfolk as first team coach last season. Stephenson, who left Norwich this month when Glen Roeder was sacked, would be an option for a quick return to Victoria Park as Butterworth’s replacement.

Chris Turner, the club’s director of sport, will remain in temporary control of the team.

His former assistant, Colin West, is now reserve team boss at Southend United.