Norwich City’s under-fire board has been done a disservice so far this season, according to captain Russell Martin
Russell Martin spoke frankly after Norwich City's thrashing at Brighton. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Norwich City’s players have done a disservice to the club’s owners so far this season – that’s according to captain Russell Martin.
A tumultuous 2016 saw all quarters at Carrow Road come under fire; a situation eased slightly by a home league win over Derby and an FA Cup comeback draw against Premier League Southampton.
Martin celebrated his 31st birthday last week and although he doesn’t feel the club is at a crossroads this season, he knows last year’s disastrous form cannot be repeated before the season is done.
“I think with social media and the like, it’s become a bit more intense; a little more heightened than it has been in the past,” said Martin.
“I think we’ve been really lucky at the football club that we’ve had a lot of success and the expectation when I first came in wasn’t what it is now – and I understand that. Going up and bouncing back down, it’s tough for people to take. We have to realise where we are as a football club as well.
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“But we certainly should be doing better this year.
“I’ve spoken to a lot of people and my friends, they read stuff and there’s a lot of negativity around the place. I understand people’s frustrations. I’ve been as frustrated and hurting as much as anyone.
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“But you have to find a way to dig in and stick together. That’s been the beauty of this football club and the positive since I’ve been here, that togetherness between the fans and the players, and that connection with the community the club has got.
“You don’t want to go away from that at all and you have to be careful what you wish for. We’ve got fantastic owners who want what’s best for the club. They might not be the richest owners in the world, but we need to be doing better on the football pitch.
“We are doing them a disservice at the minute, I think – us as a group of lads and staff, and it needs to be better. But for the club, we need to be pushing in one way. It’s as simple as that.
“The board have made their point, that it’s going to stay as it is, and we’re all behind that. We need to make sure we back that up and it turns into a good decision.”
• Follow Michael Bailey on Twitter @michaeljbailey and Facebook @mbjourno
