Opinion: Ownership holding pattern a worry for Norwich City

Trying to find the words to sum up this season seems almost impossible, and it is easiest expressed more through a noise – a sad wail not to dissimilar to Chewbacca’s when witnessing Han Solo frozen in carbonite. Maybe a prolonged sigh with a couple of ‘tuts’ at the end. 

With the power of hindsight, it is easy to look back over the season and point out the numerous mistakes that have been made both in the preparation and execution of the season.  

The ‘highlights’ being the signing of Isaac Hayden for the longstanding problem position of defensive midfielder, not sacking Dean Smith during the World Cup break, and sending Aaron Ramsey back to Villa to name but a few.  

Whether the appointment of Wagner will fall into this category is still open for debate for many but the recent showings and his seemingly lack of ideas to resolve issues that persist from game-to-game is a worrying sign.  

While he was never going to be a ‘quick fix’ head coach as he tries to implement a style of football greatly removed from that under Smith (if there even was a style then) and that of Daniel Farke, there is no hiding the performances and results in the last 10 or so games.  

But with this season all but dead and buried, thoughts turn to the next one and the impending ‘re-build’ talked up in recent comments by Wagner and Webber.  

The success of this will be heavily reliant on the quality of Norwich’s recruitment and this is the area where there are the most question marks. Gabriel Sara and Marcelino Nunez were both good additions last summer, despite Nunez’s regression after a bright spark, but it is more about the positions that weren’t strengthened and replacing those players that are leaving this summer. With Teemu Pukki and seemingly Kieran Dowell both leaving, Norwich are losing two proven Championship players for zero return.  

The on-pitch rebuild though may be overshadowed by off-field changes, or more likely the lack of them. More than ever the pressure is building on those behind the scenes and questions are being asked more about those in the corridors at Colney.  

Recent years have seen several senior level people leave, seemingly without outside replacement. Most strikingly the role of chairperson hasn’t been filled after Ed Balls stepped down at the end of 2018 and since then it does seem that there haven’t been enough questions asked of Norwich’s leadership.  

It's been a tough season for everyone involved at Norwich City including majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones (Image: Focus Images)

Balls was a large part of bringing in Stuart Webber and you do have to wonder if the sporting director would still be in his position if he was still the club chairman.  

The club certainly acted more decisively when it was clear Jez Moxley wasn’t working out. The fear is the club has become too insular and lacking independent and outside voices, while Norwich’s desire to promote from within is commendable, you have to be worried the club is building an echo-chamber with few dissenting voices. 

The increasing involvement of the Attanasios probably is resulting in more uncertainty at the top of the club and the sooner the ownership situation is resolved, the better for everyone. You’d expect if and when they do take full control, they will want to bring in their own people to run the club.  

Until then it is hard to see dramatic changes made to Norwich’s governance structure as it is unclear who is really at the reigns of the club and making those tough decisions.