City goalkeeping legend Bryan Gunn was tonight setting his sights no higher than three, big points at home to Barnsley tomorrow as Norwich's new caretaker boss prepared for an emotional day at Carrow Road.
For not only will one of the club's most famous sons be in charge of his beloved Canaries for the first time in his long and illustrious career, but he will also have the surviving 59ers for company as the Norfolk club prepare to salute their heroes of 50 years ago.
The significance of their return to the scene of the club's historic FA Cup run is not lost on the former Canary Ambassador and City Sheriff – he is a man who knows his Norwich history. And knows his Norfolk. Both qualities can do much to compensate for the lack of coaching badges on his CV.
The last game he took charge of was, apparently, one featuring Loddon Grasshoppers as son Angus cut his teeth with junior football off the A146 before moving onto the Academy ranks where Gunn Jnr continues to prosper.
There is very little danger, therefore, of Norwich's stand-in boss not knowing what makes the Canaries tick.
“I'm looking forward to Saturday – and that's as far as I'm looking forward to,” said the 45-year-old, as he conducted his first pre-match Press conference with the polished ease that comes with being such a familiar Norfolk face and character.
“Oh, and I've got Burns Night next Friday. Perhaps you could just mention that…”
His first speech to the players can't have been easy – one or two home truths were delivered.
“I pointed out that we'd probably let one or two people down, but they'd got an opportunity to put that right on the pitch on Saturday,” said Gunn, who got the call to arms at 7pm on Wednesday night. Or, at least, to prepare the team for training on Thursday morning.
He then got a second call at 6pm on the Thursday evening. “To say I'd be in charge of first team matters for the weekend.”
Which, for the conspiracy theorists, is time enough for the Northern Ireland FA to say 'No!' to any job share for Nigel Worthington.
“Hopefully, the players selected – in the 11 and the 16 – will go out there and have a reaction. And play with passion – that will be demanded.
“There's a lot of skillful players in there and I'd expect them to play to the best of their abilities.”
In the training session that followed, there were 'frustrations' shown. “And that was a good thing – it showed their disappointment at the way things had happened,” he added, with the likes of Jon Otsemobor and Adam Drury both expected to be there or thereabouts for the Tykes game.
Likewise, Jamie Cureton – swiftly recalled from Oakwell once regime-change had happened. “It wasn't my decision. But it made sense.”
With Darel Russell in line for a recall, Cureton back in the fold… was this a case of those with genuine yellow-and-green blood coming together in the club's desperate hour of need?
“You hope so,” he said. “But I'd expect that from all the players that are contracted to the club. Hopefully they'll show passion and commitment on what's going to be a very special day.
“This club has got great history and the fact that we've got the 59ers Reunion means that it's going to be a very passionate, emotional day for a lot of fans.”
But the wounds were still raw; emotions ran high when the axeman came to call.
“Wednesday was a very sad day – particularly for the backroom staff,” he revealed, as Roeder's contract was terminated 'with immediate effect' that lunchtime. And with him out of the door went both first team coach Paul Stephenson and the newly-arrived Adam Sadler.
“I must admit there were tears shed. And by myself as well. Jo Saunders, our masseuse, started it all off,” Gunn added.
“Because the whole of the backroom staff had a lot of respect for Glenn – and his family, as well.
“And I think that's important to point out. There's a lot of people affected. We'd built up a good working relationship and Glenn told everyone his thoughts – that it was the best backroom staff that he had ever worked with.
“And obviously our thoughts are with Paul Stephenson and his family – and Adam Sadler. And it was difficult lifting the spirits on Thursday morning.”
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