Norwich City

Next game is massive - Huckerby
Norwich City winger Darren Huckerby has described this weekend's Carrow Road clash with bottom club Colchester United as "massive". Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Sheffield United left the Canaries within three points of the relegation zone. Huckerby told SSB: "It's up to us to sort it out, we've got a massive game next week, it's still in our own hands. "We're in the dogfight. We got out of it but now we're back in it." Norwich had looked clear of relegation trouble after a 13-match unbeaten league run around the turn of the year lifted them to mid-table. But since then the Canaries have struggled, winning just one of their last eight matches and dropping back into the pack at the bottom of the table. Huckerby, who is in the final year of his contract, admitted the run-in will be a test of the squad. "The squad isn't as big and strong as it could be," admitted Huckerby. "The manager is doing his best, he's bought a lot of loans in but we have still got a lot of work to do."

Roeder praises fans' reaction
Norwich boss Glenn Roeder has praised the fans' reaction to Matty Pattison on Saturday against Colchester. Just six days earlier the midfielder was arrested for drink-driving at the club's Colney training ground. "It was wrong what happened, but you don't write someone off because they made a mistake," Roeder told SSB . "Our fans were terrific to give him a standing ovation and he was pretty emotional at the end." He added: "The boys have rallied round him this week as well as the staff. It was a difficult day for him to come out and play after what's happened this week." Roeder was delighted by the standing ovation Pattison received from Canary fans after his second-half withdrawal. "I think they're coming from the same way of thinking as I am," he added. "It just makes me realise yet again what a brilliant crowd we've got." As well as the fans' ovation, Pattison was patted on the back by each of his team-mates, and the manager, when he was substituted after an hour of the 5-1 win at Carrow Road.

Norwich captain wants drinks ban
Norwich captain Mark Fotheringham has said the club's players must sacrifice drinking as they battle for Championship survival. The comments come following midfielder Matty Pattison's recent arrest and prosecution for drink-driving. "Some young players make mistakes, but we're being paid a lot of money to do the best job in the world," he said. "If it means sacrificing little things like not having a drink for a few weeks, it's not a lot to sacrifice." "My dad's a scaffolder. He goes out and works everyday while I get to kick a ball about for 90 minutes. " Mark Fotheringham He added: "My dad's a scaffolder. He goes out and works everyday while I get to kick a ball about for 90 minutes. It's fantastic. "From the youngest to the oldest player, everyone knows what their responsibilities are. "If anyone steps out of line they'll get hammered. They know that." Norwich currently lie three points above the relegation zone. They play Burnley on Saturday.

Huckerby wants one more victory
Norwich City winger Darren Huckerby believes the team need one more win to ensure their Championship status. City are four points off 22nd-placed Leicester with three games remaining. The Canaries host title chasers West Bromwich Albion in their next match at Carrow Road on Saturday, before facing QPR and Sheffield Wednesday. Huckerby told SSB: "We still definitely need a win, so we'll be looking for that next week, they may be tough but it's winnable." I'm confident we'll stay up, yes, but we still definitely need a win Norwich winger Darren Huckerby He added: "We've got two home games coming up, we'll be looking to get good points out of them, we've definitely got two winnable games at home. "I'm confident we'll stay up, yes, but we still definitely need a win." Huckerby does not fancy Ipswich's promotion credentials after the Tractor Boys' recent 2-1 derby win. "I don't see them as one of the teams going up to be honest. They might get to the play-offs, but there's some really strong teams in that top six. If they do go up they'll deserve it."

Huckerby expects to leave Norwich
Winger Darren Huckerby has admitted he expects to leave Norwich City at the end of the season. Huckerby's Carrow Road contract expires in the summer and so far no new deal has been agreed. "It looks like I will be leaving, but no hard feelings that's life," Huckerby told SSB. The 31-year-old has twice been named the club's player of the year after joining from Manchester City in 2003 following a successful loan spell. Huckerby looks set to make his final Carrow Road appearance against QPR on Saturday, with the trip to Sheffield Wednesday eight days later on the last day of the season likely to mark the end of his Norwich career. The Canaries are still in relegation danger, sitting three points clear of the bottom three going into the final two games of the season. And Huckerby is determined not to leave on a sour note. "I don't want my last couple of games to be when the club gets relegated, I think it would be unfair on me and unfair on the rest of the lads," he said. Huckerby arrived at Carrow Road on loan from Manchester City in September 2003 on the same day Peter Crouch signed on loan from Aston Villa. The Canaries completed a permanent deal for him on Boxing Day that year and he was memorably presented to the crowd by joint majority shareholder Delia Smith hours after signing. Huckerby believes he has played the best football of his career for the club. "I've had great, great times here," he said. "At times over the past four years I've felt unstoppable. "I only got that because the fans showed me so much respect, they expected something to happen every time I got the ball." If the QPR match is to be Huckerby's final Carrow Road game in yellow and green it will add to an already emotional day. That game is also due to be Dion Dublin's final home appearance before he retires at the end of the season.

Smith hints at fresh City finance
Delia Smith has fuelled speculation that Norwich City are set to welcome new investment in the club. Speaking at the club's new kit launch, the joint-majority shareholder urged fans concerned at the club's lack of summer spending to "wait and see". Delia told Radio Norfolk: "Whatever's happening on the investment side, we wouldn't be saying." She also joked: "There's loads of new investment, everything's lovely, we're keeping quiet about all the money." There has been speculation over recent weeks that insurance billionaire Peter Cullum could be ready to invest in the club he has supported since childhood. Cullum, from Norwich, founded the Towergate Partnership in 1997 and the group is now valued at £3bn. He has previously ruled out the possibility of investing in the Canaries, until he recently told the Independent "never say never" when asked about football funding. Speaking at the Royal Norfolk Show on Wednesday, Smith was naming no names, saying she was under strict orders. "No, no, no, I've got to behave, when they let me out they say 'behave'." Also, in what could be seen as a thinly-veiled swipe at local rivals Ipswich Town, Smith said it would be unwise to reveal their financial hand while in the midst of transfer negotiations. "There are certain clubs who shout very loudly about all the money they've got, they have to pay a lot of money for players."

Norwich complete Koroma loan deal
A deal that will see 18-year-old striker Omar Alieu Koroma playing for Norwich City on a season-long loan from Portsmouth has been completed. The teenager from the Gambia signed for Pompey after impressing boss Harry Redknapp during a recent trial. Portsmouth would like Koroma to gain first team experience with Norwich. Norwich boss Glenn Roeder told BBC Radio Norfolk: "Koroma looks exciting and full of enthusiasm, but I don't want to put too much pressure on him." Redknapp believes that Koroma has a big future at Fratton Park. "I've been very impressed with him and I'm pleased that we've got him here," Redknapp told Portsmouth's website. "I like him very much. He's a good kid and he's got the potential to become a very good player. Goalkeeper Stuart Nelson has also signed a one-year contract after spending pre-season on trial with the Canaries.

Russell overcoming pain barrier
Midfielder Darel Russell has admitted to playing through the pain barrier for Norwich City and former club Stoke. The 27-year-old midfielder underwent surgery on a double hernia problem recently and told Radio Norfolk he had been suffering for some time. "The last two years now I've been playing with pain, this year it's become too much though," said "It was difficult sprinting, I'm hoping the surgery resolves the problem and give me freedom to sprint and move." Russell played 89 minutes of the Canaries' 2-1 win at Plymouth just ten days after the operation in Germany, and he was relatively pleased with the results. "I found the first 45 minutes difficult to get moving and break down the stiffness, but as the game progressed I felt my way into the game and it held up pretty well," said Russell. "It came as a surprise on the Friday when the gaffer mentioned it, that he'd like me to start, obviously it's nerve wracking being so soon, but that's just a confidence thing." Russell was signed by Peter Grant in 2007 for his second spell at Norwich following a four-year spell at Stoke City.

FA probe into Norwich-Derby match
The Football Association is looking into match-fixing allegations relating to the Championship match between Norwich City and Derby on 4 October. Betting patterns during the 2-1 victory for Derby County will also be the subject of a parliamentary question in the House of Commons on Thursday. Norman Lamb, MP for North Norfolk, will ask sport secretary Andy Burnham if he has heard from the FA on the matter. "I have to stress this is an allegation," said Lamb. An FA spokesman said: "The FA can confirm that it is investigating an allegation regarding the match between Norwich City and Derby County on 4 October. We are looking into whether there is any substance to this allegation. "There is no fixed time-scale to our inquiries and there will be no further comment at this time." A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: "Ministers take the integrity of sport and gambling very seriously, which is why the Government recently introduced a new offence of cheating at gambling which carries a maximum two-year jail sentence. "We want there to be no hiding place for cheats and it is right the FA investigate these serious allegations thoroughly. "Should evidence that the law has been broken emerge it is for the relevant authorities such as the Gambling Commission or the police to conduct that investigation." Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk, Lamb added: "When anything like this enters our game the whole thing's destroyed because you lose trust. "It's important the FA investigates this as a matter of extreme urgency." The Sunday Telegraph last week confirmed that unusual betting patterns involving a Championship game had been reported on the Asian markets on Saturday, 4 October, but did not specify the match. "The Sunday Telegraph didn't mention the game but it's since emerged that the game did involve Norwich City and Derby County - a game I was at - but I have to stress this is an allegation," said Lamb. "What surprised me is what I heard last night, that as of yesterday the FA had not approached Norwich City or Derby. "I find that extraordinary given that we were told on Sunday that the game was being investigated," he added. A response from Burnham is expected in the House of Commons at some point in the next week, although Lamb would like to hear something sooner. "Now this is in the public domain the government and, critically, the FA need to make a very clear statement about what's going on," he said.

Roeder sacked as Norwich manager
Glenn Roeder has been sacked as manager of Championship strugglers Norwich. A statement on the Canaries website said: "Norwich City today confirmed the contract of manager Glenn Roeder has been terminated with immediate effect." Roeder, who resigned as Newcastle boss in May 2007, joined Norwich in October of the same year and led the club from the bottom of the table to safety. Norwich are currently fourth from bottom and suffered a 1-0 FA Cup exit at the hands of Charlton on Tuesday. Club chairman Roger Munby said: "We'd like to place on record our sincere gratitude and admiration for what Glenn and his staff achieved last season when they saved the club from relegation against the odds. "However this season the position has become untenable and it is with regret that the board have decided to take this step." First-team coaches Paul Stephenson and Adam Sadler have also left Carrow Road. Munby said a decision had yet to be made over who would take charge of the team for Saturday's league game at home to Barnsley. Roeder had insisted he would fight on after the third-round FA Cup replay defeat at home to Charlton, which was the Norfolk club's sixth loss in eight games. There were protests after the match, with some fans calling for Roeder to resign.

Gunn named Norwich caretaker boss
Norwich have confirmed that legendary former goalkeeper Bryan Gunn will take temporary charge of the team for Saturday's game against Barnsley. The Canaries are looking for a new manager following the sacking of Glenn Roeder during the week. Former Scotland international Gunn, 45, played 478 games for the Canaries between 1986 and 1998 and is currently the club's head of player recruitment. He told Radio Norfolk: "I told the players that they've let people down." He added: "This opportunity has come out of the blue - it's a privilege and honour. I'm going to make the most of it. "We've very positive we can get three points in what will be a big game for Norwich City." Gunn will be assisted by goalkeeping coach Tommy Wright and academy boss Ricky Martin on Saturday.

Canaries attempt to keep Spillane
Norwich have offered teenage defender Michael Spillane a new contract. The 19-year-old centre-back is spending the season on loan with League Two Luton Town along with fellow Canaries youngster Chris Martin. Norwich boss Bryan Gunn said: "Both are getting rave reviews, we could possibly do with additions to the squad." Spillane's current deal with the Canaries expires in the summer while Martin still has another year left on his contract. Under the terms of the pairs' season-long loan to Luton they could have been recalled at the turn of the year but Glenn Roeder, who was Norwich manager at the time, opted not to bring them back. Gunn said he would have made a different decision: "I missed out on recalling them by a week. "The lads are enjoying their football there and we are looking forward to welcoming them back when they finish their season with Luton." Spillane was recently named Republic of Ireland's Under-19 player of the year.

Lambert: We will bounce back
Norwich manager Paul Lambert was disappointed not to take anything away from Burnley but insists his side will bounce back from their 2-1 defeat. Dean Marney put the Clarets ahead before Grant Holt equalised for the visitors but it was Jay Rodriguez who scored the winner nine minutes from time to dent the Canaries' promotion charge. "I thought we were brilliant in the second half, I really did. There was only one team in it, but at the end of the day we got beaten. But you pick yourself up and go again," said Lambert. "I thought we were in the ascendancy. They took off a striker and tried to match us. If anything we probably played too attacking, but that's the way we play at times. "I don't think it was a free kick , but you've still got to defend the cross better. The ball's travelled 80 yards but if you've got a man, you pick him up. "You expect Burnley to be strong. They've just come down from the Premier League and they've got a really vibrant crowd, and we've just come up from League One."

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