Jonathan Redhead Norwich City boss Bryan Gunn expressed his delight at the capture of Matthew Gill and is hopeful his arrival is the first of many at Carrow Road this summer.

Jonathan Redhead

Norwich City boss Bryan Gunn expressed his delight at the capture of Matthew Gill and is hopeful his arrival is the first of many at Carrow Road this summer.

Gunn said the Canaries had moved quickly to strike a deal to sign Gill in a Bosman-style transfer as he was attracting interest from the likes of Wycombe Wanderers as his contract ran down at Exeter.

"This is a quiet period in the transfer market and we're very fortunate we spoke to Matthew as he came back from his summer break," Gunn said,

"I think it was important to get the deal done quickly as there were a number of other clubs showing an interest and he'd been offered a new contract at Exeter as well. So we moved quickly on it and were delighted he accepted our offer of a contract and we're hoping he's the first of many.

"I spoke to Paul Tisdale (Exeter manager) and he gave a glowing reference for Matthew. We're getting a very good player, one who's done very well for him over the last two or three seasons and we're getting a very nice person as well.

"So we're looking to get that winning mentality that Matthew obviously has over the last two seasons and instil that into our dressing room and hope that we can emulate some of those experiences last season.

"It's up to Matthew now. He's got the contract and the opportunity to go out and make an impression with Norwich City fans and the staff at the football club."

Gunn said City had been watching Gill for a couple of seasons as he played a starring role for the Grecians as they claimed back-to-back promotions from the Conference to League One.

"He showed the desire I'm looking for in players coming to Norwich City," the manager said.

"The winning mentality he's got through back-to-back promotion-winning seasons at Exeter is another criteria we identified as another necessity in coming to this club. We hope that rubs off on other players around him on the pitch.

"Being a Norwich lad you get the feeling he wanted to come back here and that's the spirit the fans want to see on the pitch as well.

"He's a ball-player, but he's also very competitive. We know that we're going to come against different styles and different teams next season and Matthew's one that already seen that, been through that.

"His level of consistency over the last three seasons in the games he's played has been fantastic and we're looking and hoping it will continue."

And having broken his duck for the summer - Gunn has now set his sights on more new recruits before pre-season training begins at the start of July.

"We're working very hard behind the scenes," he said.

"There are a number of situations that come into consideration - holidays being one. Our players aren't due back until June 29 for fitness testing so there are a number of players who are still away on holiday.

"I like to meet the player as well just to get a feel for the person.

"So there are some deals ongoing and we're hopeful we can introduce a number of players before we start training in earnest on July 1."