The sacking of Paul Ince after only three months at Blackburn, having had success in his two previous management posts, reminds me of something I read some time ago said by a well-respected Premier manager.

By John C Wilkinson

The sacking of Paul Ince after only three months at Blackburn, having had success in his two previous management posts, reminds me of something I read some time ago said by a well-respected Premier manager.

He stated that a manager needs three years before you can really judge their worth.

A new manager needs the first year to assess the club, the second to weed out the players that are not for him and start to bring players in. While the third year should then see the fruition of his work.

With expectations of many fans being dashed early and the lack of consistency shown by the team it is all too easy to forget that Glenn Roeder and his management team performed a football miracle in saving the Canaries from the drop out of the Championship.

We were dead and buried. There was not the luxury of a season to assess the situation. It required instant judgements to decide who from the squad could help the club survive and who could be brought in as signings or loan players with the skill and determination to save us from relegation.

All of this had to be achieved within financial restraints which appear to grow year by year.

Some of Glenn Roeder's decisions such as letting Huckerby go and without any opportunity for fans to show appreciation of the player has angered many fans and the outbursts at the shareholder's AGM did not win friends although it probably saved others at the meeting from many difficult but pertinent questions.

Progress in 2009 for City and success in Glenn Roeder's second year as manager at Norwich City will not be decided by his approach to public relations although we can all learn from experience, a process that should not just be restricted to players.

Prospects in the New Year are more related to the Board finding the necessary finance for rebuilding the team squad.

Personally, if that includes loan players so be it. Roeder has a better record than many managers on that score.

The willingness of people who have worked with Glenn Roeder before and who have joined him again suggests that the public relations side of the manager that has upset fans may not tell a full and true picture of our manager and his relationship with those who worked closely with him. My wishes for 2009 are that City fans see a consistency of good team performances, we pick up many more points from away games, the team have a good cup run and the money becomes available to rebuild the squad so that we see the beginning of a successful third year for Glenn Roeder and our Canaries. Happy New Year to NCISA members and other City fans.