Delia Smith is still unsure of the future with Mark Attanasio at Norwich City but has no plans to retire. 

City's joint-majority shareholder has been working closely with the American businessman since he bought a stake in the club last year from long-serving director Michael Foulger. 

Attanasio's arrival marked the first time since 2007 that City have welcomed external investment into the club. It's expected the American will increase that hold of the club in the coming months through newly created shares, with the legal process ongoing before they can be allocated. 

Smith has revealed her commitment now is ensuring the club is handed over to the right person given the struggles that some football clubs have, but still plans to play an active role in City's future. 

“At the moment, we don’t know," Smith told the Financial Times when asked if the American was the heir apparent. "He seems like a really good guy. We have no idea what the future will bring.

"We just have to wait and see. What we have to do now is hand over to people we think will be good caretakers. Football is full of terrible disasters. We won’t have a disaster. We’ll do it properly.

“No, I won’t ever retire. I can’t not do anything. I can’t just sit down and wait for the six o’clock news. I believe bodies age but souls don’t. Everyone is 19 inside. I really believe that.” 

Smith remains as passionate about football as ever despite the ever-increasing football bubble that is awash with money from global states and wealthy benefactors. 

Norwich have attempted to swim against the tide with their self-funding model and it remains to be seen whether Attanasio's involvement ends that experiment in the coming years. 

The Pink Un: Delia Smith remains devoted to Norwich City and the game of football. Delia Smith remains devoted to Norwich City and the game of football. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

It is the sense of community and togetherness that fuels Smith's love for the game rather than the ups and downs that have been involved in running Norwich over the last 25 years. 

“One thing that fascinates me about football is that it’s one of the last bastions of community. It’s something incredibly precious. Somehow I believe in it. Somehow we’ll get through. All this money, money, money, one day it’s got to pop.” she said. “Beneath it all there’s this human connection. I don’t think there’s anything else like it.

“If you take a child to football, the one lovely thing they are going to learn is that life is not a bowl of cherries. It’s good and it’s wonderful and it’s thrilling. But it’s also painful and horrible.”