Blower pays tribute to protesters

Canaries fan group chief Roy Blower says disgruntled City supporters should be congratulated for the way they behaved during their weekend demonstrations.

Blower, chairman of the Norwich City Independent Supporters' Association (NCISA), said the 300-plus fans who gathered outside the ground to make their feelings known before the game against Stoke had acted in a responsible manner.

The fans have called for Nigel Worthington to be sacked because of City's poor form this season - and their anger was further stoked by comments made by director Barry Skipper on a local radio station last week.

“It certainly ratcheted things up,” said Blower. “That was like throwing down a gauntlet to people who were there on Saturday and it could have made it volatile.

“I don't represent every fan who was there on Saturday and we weren't the organisers of the demonstration. I just think the football club should be mindful that these are well in hand compared to some other clubs.

“The demonstration was good humoured. They pay good money and they feel upset at what is happening and this is the way they want to show it.”

Blower chaired a public meeting attended by 500 fans last week and will be taking the views and conclusions from that into a meeting at Carrow Road next Monday - having seen a proposed meeting last night postponed.

He is now due to meet chief executive Neil Doncaster and chairman Roger Munby next Monday.

The club said the meeting was postponed to allow the full NCISA committee to attend - and 11 members will now be able to put their case for change.

Ian Stamp, membership secretary of the London supporters' group Capital Canaries, said his group had not been involved in Saturday's protest and he had some sympathy with Worthington's position.

He said: “We have never really been on one side or the other. Mistakes have been made, but people make mistakes in jobs. I think there has been a lot of bad luck with injuries.”