Norwich City chairman Roger Munby and chief executive Neil Doncaster have both stepped down from their roles at the club.

Norwich City chairman Roger Munby and chief executive Neil Doncaster have both stepped down from their roles at the club.

The club's remaining directors, joint majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones and Michael Foulger, have placed on record their thanks to both Munby and Doncaster for all of their efforts for the Canaries over the years.

In a joint board statement they commented: "We want to sincerely thank both Roger and Neil for their hard work and commitment to the club over their years working with us.

"Roger is the longest-serving board member of us all, having first become a director in 1986, joining again for a second stint in 1996. Over the years he has made a very important contribution to the club's community commitment and communication with fans, and deserves to be recognised for his role in helping to build our incredible season ticket base.

"After stepping up from his initial position as our company secretary, as chief executive Neil played a pivotal role in helping this club to negotiate its way through the ITV Digital crisis and the AXA securitisation deal - which in turn enabled us to redevelop Carrow Road and provided us with a degree of financial stability, in a very challenging climate for football.

"Both Roger and Neil have always been happy to talk face-to-face with supporters through good times and bad - a level of accessibility that not every chairman and chief executive in the country would be comfortable with.

"On behalf of everyone at the club we wish Roger and Neil every success and all the best for the future.

"There will be further changes to the board. Meanwhile, an announcement about the executive management structure at the Club will be made in the near future, once staff at Carrow Road and Colney have been fully consulted. The club will not be adding to this statement until then."

A joint statement from Munby and Doncaster issued today said: "It is clear that for Norwich City Football Club to move forward, there needs to be a fresh start. A new board of directors is an essential part of that process. We therefore believe it is in the best interests of the club for us to step down from our positions.

"We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to all the staff at Carrow Road who work long and often anti-social hours to serve Norwich City's wonderful supporters.

"Delia, Michael and the Foulger family have worked tirelessly for supporters and put huge amounts of their own money into the club over the last 13 years. They, and City supporters everywhere, deserve much more success than has been possible in recent years. We would like to wish them, and everyone associated with Norwich City Football Club, the very best for the future."

t For all the reaction to this statement see Wednesday's EDP, plus a special Fan's Eye View from Adam Aiken.