Norwich City Football Club has just released the latest public face of the annual accounts.

Why just now is baffling, as the accounts are properly produce in time for the end of the Club’s financial year which, one would presume, is dictated by the Football Association.

There is some encouraging news, reading the figures released to the public, although this is hardly surprising considering the increase in income generated by promotion to the Championship.

This is not to paint the news with any negativity, but in the desire to keep the feelgood factor alive and well the Club should make sure that the fact that there is still nowhere near enough money in the coffers to maintain the team’s status if, by good chance and design, they do make it to the Premier League next season.

Joint majority share-holder, Delia Smith was interviewed by the BBC just before the recent broadcast of Norwich City’s game. The game in which the Canaries beat their arch rivals, Ipswich Town by 4 goals to 1.

Delia was restrained to the extent of being evasive when the interviewer asked her of City’s likelihood of ending the season in the play-off places. Stutteringly, she stated that the board had not really planned for anything more than a mid table finish.

Translate that into terms that the fans will understand, and it comes out as, “We can’t afford to splash out”.

Something Norwich fans still find it hard to forgive after a lack of activity on inward-signings when last promoted to the Premier League in 2004.

It doesn’t really matter, at the end of the day, whether supporters think the sun shines from the nether regions of Delia Smith’s anatomy, when it comes down to it, if you do not wish to see Norwich City playing regularly at the very top level of the English game, then there is a serious question of loyalty.

This sort of news has been swept aside by relegation, promotion and continuing success, but it is a hoary old chestnut, regardless of who is chairman and who is chief executive.

Supporters do not give a hoot about whether or not Norwich City plc wins regional awards for good business. No, we want national awards for good football.

It is, of course, welcome news that the Club, no - the company, is scouring out the rot and reaping the just rewards.

The Club should never forget, though, that 25,000 and more people support the team, not the Board.

While a nod of acknowledgement is accorded to the business success, a weather eye is kept on how Paul Lambert is able to compete in the market to maintain the good that is in abundance on the green sward.

Photo: Action Images

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