Chris Lakey Canaries boss Glenn Roeder appears to have made his mind up over the future of Darren Huckerby. The fans' favourite - along with skipper Mark Fotheringham and defender Gary Doherty - is out of contract this summer and his future has sparked furious debate among the City faithful.

Chris Lakey

Canaries boss Glenn Roeder appears to have made his mind up over the future of Darren Huckerby.

The fans' favourite - along with skipper Mark Fotheringham and defender Gary Doherty - is out of contract this summer and his future has sparked furious debate among the City faithful.

Matters reached a peak during Saturday's win over QPR which secured Championship football for next season on what could prove to be Huckerby's final home game for the Canaries.

Fans made their feelings known, urging Roeder to give the 32-year-old winger a new deal, but the manager has steadfastly refused to discuss the player's future in public.

While he gave the clearest indication yet yesterday that a decision had been made, Roeder was still playing his cards close to his chest - although there was plenty to be read between the lines.

“I am absolutely clear in my own mind the players that will continue to play a part in what happens here over the next few years,” he said.

“I also know there will be a number of players that will leave the club, and we have to replace those with new players, new heroes, because the one constant in football is change.

“I know that is contradictory, but that's what it is that's the one constant in football, it's forever changing, it is a revolving door, and that's for managers, coaches and, of course, players.

“I am not a person who dwells in the past. The history is, for me, left up on the shelves and I just look to the future and the future for this club is that there will be heroes that are here now that stay here and there will be heroes that are not here yet but will start the season here. New heroes - and that's what our supporters will want as well - fresh blood.”