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Full-time gig delivered, Gunn starts to sort the wheat from the want-away Colney chaff

14th May 2009 By Latest News Leave a Comment

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City boss Bryan Gunn will today continue to sort the wheat from the 'Don't want to be here, Gaffer…' chaff – now safe in the knowledge that he, at least, will be in the building.

Canary keeper David Marshall has already ducked out of a trip to Yeovil; City's Championship body had barely been consigned to its grave before Marshall's illustrious agent Willie McKay was on the phone and getting his man away.

But having looked each and every one of his playing squad in the eye and asked them the same question, the newly re-installed City chief was warning everyone to expect further farewells; that Marshall won't be the only one seeking a swift exit as League One looms.

“I got the answers I wanted and I knew I would get,” said Gunn, as he looked back on those individual one-on-ones. Coming the day after that Open Day forum at Carrow Road where his own, raw emotions were very much to the fore following events at The Valley, one or two individuals might have had a less than easy ride.

There is little doubt that the 45-year-old City chief is determined to “right a wrong” when it comes to restoring the Canaries' place back in the Championship and he'll be more than happy to ruffle a few, cosy dressing room feathers in pursuit of that goal.

Youngster Korey Smith and the ex-Essex scaffolder Cody McDonald were all-but the only players to escape his frustration and his fury at The Valley; he would, you sense, far rather have a team of 11 Cody McDonalds and take his chance with enthusiasm ahead of experience in the League One than entrust his fortunes and Norfolk reputation to anyone who didn't really give a monkeys.

“And I wasn't surprised by the ones that were looking to move on and play either at the Championship or at a higher level,” he added, one having already packed his bags in the search for a platform for his international career. That and giving his agent an early summer bonus.

“And I think it was important for me to do that – whether I got the job or not,” he added.

“I could then report to the board that these are players that we can rely on and these are the other players that see their future away from the club.

“So now it's a case of building that squad up now that the decision has been made to stay with me as manager. We can start building; start speaking to people; speaking to representatives of players who maybe not want to be here and begin that whole process.

“And I'm sure it's going to be a very busy few weeks in the build-up to pre-season training.”

Certain individuals are already booked for a potentially key role next season. The 'Luton Two' of striker Chrissy Martin ad the newly re-signed Michael Spillane fit Gunn's bill- particularly if their whole Wembley winner's experience fires their hunger and commitment into new life.

Spillane, in particular, could prove interesting. Should he and his manager see his role going forward as the right-back position favoured by the Hatters, it will put a large question mark over Jon Otsemobor's future. Right-back is also one of Smith's favoured positions.

Likewise Spillane can play either centre-midfield or centre-half. He could, therefore, cover for Sammy Clingan if the Northern Ireland international finds an opportunity to take his career to a higher stage next season.

Gary Doherty might be one of those that you would want to keep in terms of an older head; by and large, he didn't let anyone down. Whether Dejan Stefanovic fancies it is another matter; with one year left to run on his City deal, the injured Serb is likely to be one of the more expensive items on Gunn's playing books. There could be a deal to be had there.

Wes Hoolahan may be another who considers himself a better player than League One; he has already been linked to a switch to Crystal Palace this summer with Alan Lee coming the other way in a straight swap deal. Again, whether Gunn has the playing budget at his disposal to run a Lee ahead of a Martin may yet depend on the kind of cash a Clingan sale might yield.

In South Wales, sources were suggesting that Marshall's signature raised ?400,000 – ?400,000 more than they wouldhave received next summer for his services with the wily McKay odds-on to ensure his client's contract ran out and he was free to walk wherever he chose.

It is, no doubt, the same advice that Lee Croft has been handed with Gunn revealing that that conversation was going nowhere – City's Player of the Season will be heading back into the Championship be it with Derby County or Palace. And all with his Barry Butler Trophy in tow.

The future was lean, was hungry, was young and was Academy-based. McDonald, Smith, Spillane, Rudd, Martin, Adeyemi, Daley and Renton – these were the names to conjure with over the summer.

“The future is important now for the young players coming through the Academy and with coaches like Ian Crook and Ian Butterworth behind the scenes, hopefully we can develop them sooner and bridge the gap between youth team football and first team football.

“And I'm sure that there'll always been one or two that'll come through and surprise us in pre-season – they'll see that opportunity there and, hopefully, somebody will take it,” said Gunn, laying out his criteria for a busy summer in the cheap-and-cheerful transfer market.

“We need to get together a squad that our proud to wear the Norwich City jersey; the majority of them are contracted to the club and will go out and give 100 per cent in each and every game.”


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