City boss Bryan Gunn this morning made one thing very clear. Come what ever may over the next, eight momentous days in the football club's proud 107-year history, he wants to be at the helm next season.
Which division Norwich will be playing in next season may still be shrouded in all manner of ifs, buts and maybes. But here at least was one certainty – that the Norwich goalkeeping legend wanted the job on a longer-term basis once his initial, short-term gig expires at the end of the season.
“I want the job – no matter what,” was Gunn's unequivocal statement at Carrow Road this morning as he spoke to the Press ahead of Monday night's crucial home clash with Reading.
It feels as if the one-time Sheriff of Norwich has already been in the job a life-time as opposed to the four, short months since the club parted company with ex-boss Glenn Roeder.
At that stage, it was very much a case of 'Let's just see how it goes…' – on both sides of the fence; be it board or rookie manager.
But with 'Team Gunn' now firmly in place with fellow ex-Canary favourites Ian Butterworth, Ian Crook and John Deehan at his side, the 45-year-old clearly has been bitten by the bug and wants to keep his feet firmly under the table.
Keep City up over the course of the next eight days and he's a shoe-in; drop into the third tier of English football for the first time in almost 50 years and the board might have more of a decision to make. That said, there has been little or no dissension among the ranks of the faithful; 'He's got no hair and they don't care…' remains the chant.
“I'm manager of the football club and I'd hope to be manager of the football club next season as well,” he added, a commitment that was as firm and as determined whether he was finding Yeovil on the map in one league or bumping into a certain Roy Keane in the other.
“I'd still want the job,” he said simply.
That, of course, all remains in the future. This afternoon and all eyes will be on the fortunes of Barnsley, Plymouth and Nottingham Forest as the Canaries desperately hope that someone, somewhere can do them another big favour ahead of their own, live TV clash with Reading on Monday night.
Like Ricoh assistant referee Martin Dexter, for example. He of the Rob Kozluk 'handball' fame. A decision – four minutes into stoppage time at the very end of Tuesday night's game at Coventry City – that could yet enter relegation folklore. Be it in either Barnsley or Norwich.
“I think the mood has been good around the place anyway,” said Gunn, quizzed as to whether Elliot Ward's subsequent 94th minute penalty conversion had injected a new sense of hope into his troops.
“But those little things do have a little impact as well,” he added. It certainly did on both Kozluk and Reds boss Simon Davey – left distraught by a decision that ripped two, huge points out of their hands at the very death.
“Ian [Crook] and I were at Derby driving back and there was no information about the Barnsley game – until we heard there was a penalty. And then that there was an equaliser.
“So, who knows about these things? I've seen it again on the telly and it's a Norwich City penalty isn't it?”, he said, as the ball for once fell on the other foot after the burning sense of injustice that has followed any number of Canary games of late – the Sheffield Wednesday home game and David Mooney's 'goal' principal among them.
Last Sunday's derby all-but turned on that one, penalty decision soon after the re-start. Now it was someone else's turn to feel cheated out of a chance to cement their place in the Championship.
“It was very similar to a lot of things that we've seen happen to us this season, so who knows? It might be a little change in fortune, but we'll find out today at five o'clock if there's any more of that to come.”
Injury-wise and the big doubt was Lee Croft, who disappeared early at Portman Road last Sunday with calf trouble.
“50-50 – probably not even as good as that,” admitted the Canary chief quizzed as to the extent of the winger's chances to make that Royals game. The City boss is already without striker David Mooney given that the on-loan Reading striker is ineligible to face his full-time employers.
“He [Croft] is not going to train with us this morning and, obviously, I was hoping he would; so we'll wait and see tomorrow. But it's not looking great,” added the Canary boss.
“And Adam Drury is not training today – he's a got a slightly sore throat and I just want to keep him away from the rest of the squad but he should be alright for Monday.”
With the prospect of no Croft and no Mooney, opportunity looks like to knock for ex-Essex scaffolder Cody McDonald in some shape or form; Alan Gow could offer width on one flank with David Carney on the other.
Much will depend on how Croft shapes up over the next 24 hours. Otherwise it'll be pretty much as you were for one, huge game in Norwich City's history.
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