As the dust settles on a disastrous campaign for the Canaries, thoughts are now turning to the future – one which, at the present moment, is fraught with uncertainties.
The picture should be slightly clearer after today's much talked about board 'crisis' meeting, and according to the chairman of one of City's biggest supporters' groups, setting out a clear strategy is phase one of the recovery programme.
Whether Bryan Gunn gets the full-time gig or not is yet to be seen, but whoever the manager is, setting a blueprint for success is the first, crucial step.
“For me, it's important the board first settles on the club's plan and strategy,” said Capital Canaries chairman Ian Russell, the head of a group with some 250 members.
“Lots of questions need to be asked of themselves by themselves; they know that and they don't need telling.
“The club's finances, its key people, its ambition and blueprint for starting from scratch and moving forward must be top of the agenda.
“Once the house in is order, the appointment of the right man to fit the profile ? Bryan Gunn or otherwise – can follow.
“With the correct approach this relegation could turn out to the mark of a renewed Norwich City Football Club, ready to bounce back.
“But there have to be changes ? either in personnel or in attitude. If we are serious about getting back on track then we must accept that the performance of the players on Sunday is reflective of the shape and condition of Norwich City Football Club ? that alone must inspire, stir and motivate the Board into the appropriate action.”
Despite the fact that three days have now passed since that fateful day in South East London, everyone connected with NCFC will still be hurting.
None more so than the members of the Capital Canaries, who, for the second time in four years, have witnessed a relegation on their home patch; something that will make their working weeks a little harder for the foreseeable future.
At least the Norfolk masses can drown their sorrows together…..
“No words can change the fact that Sunday was an unmitigated disaster,” Russell continued. “We know for definite now that a 10-0 win wouldn't have made any difference to which league we kick off in next season, but the manner of the defeat and evident capitulation was staggering.
“Whilst staying up remained possible, I felt everyone in and around the club still harboured belief. Apparently everyone, that is, but the players themselves.
“It's as if that first goal from Shane Long last Monday night was the signal for the some of them to 'jack it in', 'give up' and accept the inevitable; quite remarkable and utterly unacceptable.”
Russell echoes the thoughts of many Canary supporters though, when he insists that this season's failure hasn't been a one-off blip.
He feels that this has been a disaster waiting to happen for some time and the question must be asked: was enough done to stop the worst from happening?
“Our fate might have been sealed on Sunday, but the writing has been on the wall quite a lot longer than perhaps we'd like to admit.
“The distinct smell of relegation has been wafting the four corners of Carrow Road for much of the season; you could say much of the past two seasons.
“As the dust starts to settle on this appalling season, it's easy to look back and see where it's all gone wrong; it's not like there's any shortage of opinion and comment on that subject just now.
“But the fact remains: Norwich City is a League One club. Why? Because we deserve to be and I think that's the saddest part.”
The general consensus is that, one way or the other, we should know the fate of Gunn and his management staff sometime soon after today's board gathering.
Opinion is generally mixed and even though he came in for some criticism at Monday's raw and emotional fans' forum, his status amongst City supporters will always curry him some favour.
It could well be that the board are just so sick of hiring and firing that they 'stick to their Gunns'. But there does seem to be a feeling that City might need someone who knows League One like the back of their hand.
One thing is for sure though; the Canaries cannot afford to get this one wrong…
“Everybody at Norwich City knows, or at least feel they know, Bryan Gunn,” Russell added. “When he was given the job back in January, there was a real sense of mixed feeling amongst most.
“Would Gunny be endorsed as the hero who kept us up or would he have 'relegation' as the first entry on his football management CV? Bryan Gunn clearly has the absolute desire to manage this club back to the Championship.
“From the Capital Canaries members I've spoken with and some of the things I've read, there seems to be a good number of people who think Gunny should yield to someone with more experience and tactical know how.”
Tom Haylett
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