LEE Clark said it was the Glenn Roeder factor which convinced him to leave the club he loves for Norwich City.

The former Geordie favourite has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Canaries to become Roeder's assistant boss at Carrow Road.

Clark, 35, has spent most of his career in the north east, beginning and ending his playing days at St James' Park.

And, speaking exclusively to First News in his first interview since the move was confirmed, he said it was the opportunity to be reunited with Roeder which persuaded him to leave his spiritual home.

"I have worked with him before and when he asked me to think about coming down and joining him at Norwich City it was a decision I couldn't turn down," said Clark.

"To prise me from a club I love - in that respect it was a tough decision. But to come and work alongside someone like Glenn again was the perfect opportunity for me and to be given the role of assistant manager means he's shown a lot of faith in me."

Clark was part of the Newcastle side which took the Premiership by storm during the swashbuckling Kevin Keegan era and made a name for himself as a tough tackling midfielder who played with his heart on his sleeve.

He left the Magpies in 1997 and enjoyed spells with Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Fulham before returning to Newcastle to finish his playing days under Graeme Souness.

When that period turned sour and Roeder was called in to rescue Newcastle's fortunes, Clark was promoted to a coaching role and also took charge of their reserve side.

And Clark said he was looking forward to supporting Roeder in his efforts to transform Norwich's fortunes.

"He will bring a lot of managerial experience," he said. "He has a lot of experience in getting clubs out of tough positions like Norwich find themselves in at the moment, but also in terms of building on that and trying to do what Norwich fans want and returning them to where they were three or four years ago."

Clark will join Roeder in the City dug-out for Sunday's big game with Ipswich Town at Carrow Road. No stranger to the fearsome derby atmosphere's of the north east, Clark felt it was the perfect game for the Roeder era to begin.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "It's a fantastic start. It's a local derby and there will be lots of passion and pride at stake.

"Players wont need motivating and they will be out to do it for the supporters so we are looking forward to the occasion. Hopefully we can get all three points to start off the new era and start climbing the Championship table, which is the most important thing."

Roeder said: "I made Lee Clark my reserve team coach at Newcastle United two years ago after a brilliant career in the Premiership. I have never known anyone to take up the reigns so quickly and become a very good coach.

"He was really keen to learn and has already qualified as an A licence coach and is now working towards his Pro licence. He wants to eventually manage a club himself, which I find very positive. He is highly motivated and wants to become better. He wants to learn from working with me.

"I'm very pleased to have secured his services for Norwich City and I want to thank Newcastle United for their help in making this happen.

"Lee will be here for Sunday's game and I'm sure he has the right personality to be a success and a good foil for me."