Former Norwich City captain Mark Fotheringham made a low-key exit from Carrow Road yesterday after having his contract cancelled by mutual consent.The midfielder has been out of the first team picture since reacting angrily to being taken off during the 2-1 home defeat against Coventry on February 28.

Former Norwich City captain Mark Fotheringham made a low-key exit from Carrow Road yesterday after having his contract cancelled by mutual consent.

The midfielder has been out of the first team picture since reacting angrily to being taken off during the 2-1 home defeat against Coventry on February 28.

When his substitution was loudly cheered by sections of the crowd, Fotheringham headed straight for the tunnel rather than taking his place on the City bench - and it was that moment of petulance that effectively ended his Norwich career.

The 25-year-old Scot was out of contract in June anyway - but manager Bryan Gunn has decided to bring his exit forward, along with that of young utility player Robert Eagle, who also left City yesterday. The pair are now free to look for new clubs.

Explaining the departures, Gunn commented: "Both players are aware that their best chance of playing regular first team football lies elsewhere.

"Robert Eagle has worked very hard since emerging from our Academy ranks but has found it very tough to break into the first team and this gives him the chance to focus on new challenges and kick-start his career.

"Mark Fotheringham also wants to play first team football and again with this news he now has the opportunity to secure a place with another club.

"I'd like to wish them all the best in their future careers on behalf of everyone at the club."

Former boss Peter Grant brought Fotheringham to Carrow Road in January 2007 as a free agent after his fellow Scot had spent time abroad playing in Germany and Switzerland. The former Celtic trainee made a total of 76 appearances in all competitions for the Canaries, scoring four times.

He was a regular in the starting line-up for most of the current campaign after being awarded the captaincy by Glenn Roeder but swiftly disappeared from view after the Coventry incident, and failed to even make the squad in the subsequent 10 games, with youngsters like Tom Adeyemi and Korey Smith being chosen ahead of him.

Eagle made a total of 12 first team appearances after coming through the ranks at Carrow Road.

The left-sided player, who can operate in midfield or defence, never managed to establish himself in the first team and has not featured at all this season apart from in sporadic reserve team friendlies.

It was the same story in 2007-8 - but that didn't stop Roeder from giving the Leiston-born former Ipswich trainee a one-year deal last summer.

Eagle, 22, made his senior City debut in the 4-2 victory Carling Cup victory at Rotherham in September 2006 and made what turned out to be his final appearance over two years ago in a 3-0 league defeat at Burnley.