Sarah Hall Peter Cullum, the billionaire Norfolk-born businessman who was interested in investing in the Canaries before negotiations with Delia Smith and the rest of the board broke down, said the Charlton match had shown the team were not united behind Roeder.

Sarah Hall

Peter Cullum, the billionaire Norfolk-born businessman who was interested in investing in the Canaries before negotiations with Delia Smith and the rest of the board broke down, said the Charlton match had shown the team were not united behind Roeder.

The insurance tycoon, executive chairman of Towergate, said: “I think the pressure on Delia and Michael Wynn Jones to act must have been enormous and they felt they needed to do something.”

Mr Cullum once again said he was no longer in a position to make more offers of financial help to the club, given the credit crunch, but added: “Would I let them drift into oblivion? Probably not, but we'll have to see.”