Newly-elected Canary director Andrew Turner gave the clearest indication yet that money must not be allowed to be a problem in the great managerial hunt as the dust settled on last night's Annual General Meeting at Carrow Road.
Turner and his wife, Sharon, were both unanimously elected to the board by the shareholders in what, as ever, was a far less stormy meeting than some had either hoped or expected.
The Central Trust founder used the 15 minutes of formal business to make a short introductory speech to the 400 shareholders in which he said that the couple were happy “to be held to account” if their deeds did not match their words.
Fail to deliver over “a certain time-frame” and they would have no hesitation in following Peter Grant's example and following the honourable way out by falling on their swords, mission unaccomplished.
Speaking afterwards, however, and it is clear that the bruising events of late have done little to dampen their ardour. And that as they throw themselves into their first managerial appointment, so the club could not allow any “penny pinching” to get in the way of making the right appointment.
“The managerial appointment is our top priority,” said Andrew, wife Sharon by his side.
“And the lucky thing for us is that Central Trust is a certain size where I can do that, I can clear my desk and hand things off to other people.
“We need to get a manager in; the longer we delay there'll be a period of unrest – so we want to get someone in and crack on with the rest of the season. And I still firmly believe that we have the players to do the job.”
It's finding a manager to do the job that is, of course, the $64 million dollar question. Or whatever figure it takes to get Mr Right into the hot seat.
“The managers that we have spoken to so far have been affordable – and I mean the good quality ones are affordable. And this is an appointment that we must get right.
“And this is not a time for us to penny-pinch, quite frankly. We need to go and get the best manager possible who can do the job for us and get us into the Premiership. It's as simple as that.”
Inevitably given the above, questions about the level of their future involvement surfaced – Turner was at pains to stress that they weren't “a front” for Towergate Insurance chief Peter Cullum; a mere stalking horse for an even bigger potential investor – if you believe your Sunday Times Rich List.
They're here at their own behest, no-one else's.
“For Sharon and I nothing has changed in the five months since we've been here – we wuldn't rule out, we wouldn't rule in putting in more money. We'll see what the circumstances dictate.”
One of those circumstances might dictate that you push the boat out that little bit further to get the manager you want – go beyond what the 2006-2007 accounts might naturally allow. And that circumstance could yet arrive next week as the Canaries home in on their final targets.
“We don't have a crystal ball, but there's nothing off the table as far as we're concerned at the moment.”
Given that the couple only arrived in May, they have probably seen most of what football has to offer – well, probably apart from the good bit. Boxes marked bad, indiferrent and a managerial upheavel they can all tick off; appointing a new manager and, ideally, that prompting a few more better times will be next on their list of 'Jobs to do..'
“I think somebody said that the honeymoon is over – it's been a baptism of fire. And it has. There's been high points and low points – perhaps more of the latter than the former.
“But I still think that we are fundamentally on the right way – obviously, we don't want to be where we are and I, personally, was very sad to see Peter Grant go because I believed in him and, indeed, had grown to be very fond of him.
“I admired all his energy and passion and I think just but for a bit of good luck he would still be with us.”
There, too, may lie a little lesson going forward. That football is a very brutal business and friendships between dressing room and boardroom can come at a heavy price. As difficult as it may be for a board as naturally warm and sociable as Norwich's tend to be, sometimes you need to keep a distance – if only for your own emotional well-being. It's a nasty business that can turn in an instant.
That said, it was clear from the comments last night that in the manner of his exit Grant had earned many friends around the boardroom table.
“Most impressive for me was when he came to talk to us he acted so honourably,” said Turner, as he looked back to events post-Rangers.
“In the circumstances, I think human nature might not have been to do that and it was, frankly, a humbling experience watching him and something that will stay with me for a long while.”
Overall and Turner felt the AGM had been an invigorating experience.
“I liked the honesty of the questions – and I like the transparency of the club. And I think that's one of the things that attracted us to it,” said the Central Trust chief.
Interestingly for a company that the couple aim to steer to a ?1 billion turnover by 2010, Central Trust doesn't do AGMs. The majority share-holders, by and large, get together over a breakfast table every morning.
“This is my first AGM – and this is worth saying. that when Neil (Doncaster) told me that there will be 500-600 people here and I'm thinking: 'Well, I've been to AGMs of major Plc's and there haven't been 500-600 of their shareholders so I think its fantastic that so many people care so passionately about the club.”
Leave a Reply