Thousands of Norwich City fans have been left disappointed after the club revealed its new kit will not be available until August 4 - just one day before the new season starts.

Thousands of Norwich City fans have been left disappointed after the club revealed its new kit will not be available until August 4 - just one day before the new season starts.

The Canaries say plans to hand out the first batch of 3,000 shirts this week have had to be postponed following hold-ups over printing the sponsor's name.

The delays mean that while many rival clubs were parading their new kits before the end of last season, the vast majority of City fans will have to wear old kits come the start of the new campaign.

Season-ticket holder Robert Butler, 27, of Bracondale, had hoped to pick up a new white away shirt this week before going on holiday.

He said: “I do not like to criticise the club but it is a bit of a shambles. Lots of people like to have the new shirts by the start of the season - or for their summer holidays - but that can't happen now.”

The Canaries have new home and away kits for the 2006/7 season, having signed a new sponsorship deal with low-cost airline Flybe.

Will Hoy, brand marketing manager at Carrow Road, said: “This is delayed from our initial expectations, the reason being the manufacturing of the raised high-frequency welding sponsor's logo on the front of shirts.

“This has taken longer than expected to complete however, we do feel that for the long-term this will give the shirt a greater quality.”

The club decided not to go for the usual screen print process but to go for what is called a flock weld based design instead - but the only place this could be done was in Ireland.

Each season, about 25,000 replica kits are bought by city fans but Mr Hoy said he did not think the club would miss out on a huge amount of revenue because of the hold-up.

He said interest in the new kits had been “massive”, and that about 3,000 supporters had already paid up for the new shirts, which would now be delayed.

The club expects 4,000 shirts to be available from its outlets on Friday, August 4, the day before the new season gets under way at Leeds United's Elland Road.

It hopes a further 4,000 will then be available by the end of the month.

The cost of the new shirts will be £39.99 for adults, or £44.99 for long-sleeved, and £29.99 for junior sizes.

Special offers include a 20pc discount for season ticket holders, and 10pc for members if they return the 2005/6 home shirt when buying a new kit by September 30.

Under 16s bringing in last season's home shirt and buying a new football can claim a free football.

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Ü Check out www.pinkun.com for all the latest news from Carrow Road.