Norwich City column: Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones deserve thanks of Canaries fans after 28-year tenure

It has certainly been a year of change at Norwich City.

From Ben Knapper’s arrival in November 2023, through to the appointment of head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup, the club has been given the new lease of life it desperately needed.

Perhaps the biggest change, however, was announced last month, when Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones ended their 28-year tenure as directors.

For City fans of my generation, Delia and Michael are all we’ve known. Under their leadership, we’ve had so many wonderful highs – and plenty of lows – but, through it all, their support for the club has remained constant.

Delia and Michael are one of the many reasons why this is such a special club to support. In a sport dictated by greed, the sense of community they have provided, alongside their loyalty and passion, is second to none.

I thank them from the bottom of my heart for everything and hope their contribution will be formally recognised in due course – whether through the naming of a stand, or something similar.

But it is an incredibly exciting time to be a supporter of Norwich City. New majority shareholder Mark Attanasio clearly has a big vision for the club – and the finances to back it up.

Of course, we aren’t suddenly going to splash the cash in a reckless way – but it was refreshing to hear the US businessman state that money is available to strengthen the squad in January.

Those are words we are not used to hearing, after years of discourse around being a self-funded club.

The need to do so has been made evident in recent weeks, thanks to an injury crisis that can only be described as unprecedented.

As we move towards a return to action at West Brom on Saturday, all eyes will be on who is available following the two-week international break.

Let’s hope for good news.