Norwich boss Glenn Roeder stressed he had the full backing of the City board after Birmingham snubbed the Canaries 'excellent offer' for defender Martin Taylor.

Norwich boss Glenn Roeder last night stressed he had the full backing of the City board after Birmingham snubbed the Canaries 'excellent offer' for defender Martin Taylor.

Roeder revealed Blues' managing director Karren Brady had rejected the club's bid after Norwich's initial request to extend Taylor's loan spell was turned down flat.

Championship rivals QPR have had an offer accepted - reportedly £1.25m - but Roeder is adamant City's hierarchy are blameless.

“I am very comfortable that the board made every effort they could to make Martin Taylor's loan signing a permanent one,” Roeder told the club's official web site. “We had great difficulty getting a financial agreement with Karren Brady and Birmingham City, who stuck rigidly to their valuation of Martin. Our firm offer for Martin to become a permanent member of the squad at Norwich City was simply turned down by Karren Brady. I felt it was an excellent offer and was both surprised and disappointed when it was rejected.

“For obvious reasons I can't go into detail, but having met the board recently I'm also certain that they are doing everything possible to support me in January. It's not just all about one player - we need three or four more players to add to the quality we already have here and I'm looking to create healthy competition in every position.”

Chairman Roger Munby went on the offensive to allay fears City's board is unwilling to back Roeder in the January transfer window.

“The board wants to make it clear that every effort possible was made to support Glenn in keeping Martin Taylor at Norwich City,” he said. “The directors and Glenn worked very hard together to extend Martin's loan and we share supporters' frustrations that it hasn't happened. We remain totally committed to doing everything we can to support Glenn's team-building plans in January and beyond.”

Roeder has not ruled out an improved offer for the big centre back after confirming Taylor reiterated to QPR officials he saw his long term future at Carrow Road.

“Maybe we can do something with Martin Taylor in January, we shall have to wait and see,” said Roeder. “But my determination to find more quality players for this football club has not been diminished at all by this setback. Martin doesn't want to go there and he's told Birmingham he wants to come here. Karren Brady knows that as well.

“She said he had to come back - that they had a bid on the table from QPR, which she had accepted. That is a worthless piece of paper because he doesn't want to go and play for QPR.”

Roeder admitted Taylor was hugely frustrated by the on going transfer impasse.

“He's gone back to Birmingham very disappointed that we couldn't get any sort of agreement,” said Roeder. “After the first few weeks when he was settling in I asked him then and he said he didn't think there was any chance with the change of manager at Birmingham. He said he'd be going back so I backed off. Then over the following weeks this club really grew on him. He's an unbelievably family-orientated guy. I was staying in the same hotel as him and before the Sheffield United game he came down with his three little boys who were all wearing Norwich kits.

“So I thought then things might be changing. You don't buy your children kits if you only plan to stay a month. Martin asked to sit down and talk after the Sheffield United game about extending the loan until January. We hoped while he was doing that we could try and discuss a permanent move, but Karren Brady wouldn't have that at all.”

Roeder's immediate priority now is to fill the void left by Taylor's departure for today's Championship trip to Colchester.

Gary Doherty returns after missing the Sheffield United win through suspension but Roeder has not ruled out re-deploying experienced veteran Dion Dublin on a Layer Road mission.

“I've got to have a look at everything and all the players I have available,” said Roeder. “He has played there before. I know he's a versatile player who can put a shift in but as much as I know that I still view him as a striker.”