Loyalty is one of the enduring characteristics of Norwich City: it wraps around the club like a warm winter coat, whatever the weather. That is why - despite the disharmony that has dominated the past year - around 24,000 turn up for every league game at Carrow Road.

Loyalty is one of the enduring characteristics of Norwich City: it wraps around the club like a warm winter coat, whatever the weather. That is why - despite the disharmony that has dominated the past year - around 24,000 turn up for every league game at Carrow Road.

Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones displayed commitment on a grand scale to the manager last season where probably no other directors in the land would have done so, and it was typical of them. That is the sort of people they are. Loyal and true to what they believe in. As laudable as that may be, however, that loyalty went too far. And yesterday, one more massacre on the pitch and another afternoon of hurting and anger off it, proved too much even for them to bear.

The biggest shame is it should never have come to that: there cannot be many with a heart that beats for this club who now don't believe the board should have acted last season and turned over a new leaf in the summer, before the August transfer window slammed shut.

But now it is time for the recriminations to stop and for the club to move forwards again, as it did under Worthy when he first took charge.

We have some excellent players at this club and they reminded us of what they can do in the first five games of the season. The confidence of some is fragile though and morale in the dressing room must now be rock bottom. Delia, Michael and the rest of the board must now look to bring in a manager who can give them the lift and the guidance they need and get them playing as a team. Albeit belatedly, they showed the guts to end the agony - now we are reliant on their judgement to choose the right man for the job.