Like many others, I'm looking forward to a better season next year. It will be the first campaign since our relegation from the Premiership without a substantial parachute payment and some difficult decisions are going to have to be made.

Like many others, I'm looking forward to a better season next year.

It will be the first campaign since our relegation from the Premiership without a substantial parachute payment and some difficult decisions are going to have to be made. With five players released this week, it looks as though the changes have already begun.

It has been a difficult two years at Carrow Road, but with Peter Grant as our manager, I am sure that we have a bright future.

There have also been changes this week within NCISA.

I was delighted to re-elected as a Norwich city councillor on Thursday, and as well as holding office for the next three years, it means that I will have the great honour of being Lord Mayor of our Fine City for a year.

But it means I have had to stand down as chairman of NCISA - a post I have held for 12 years.

As well as the obvious time constraints due to the numerous civic duties of the Lord Mayor, it is important that the work of NCISA is not overshadowed by outside interests.

Whatever your views on the stance the association has taken in the past, decisions have been agonised over and the committee has taken collective responsibility for its policies and statements.

Add the Lord Mayor to the mix, however, and it changes very quickly.

Imagine what the headlines would have been towards the end of the Nigel Worthington era, for instance. “Lord Mayor calls on manager to quit” and “First citizen demands the board should act”.

That is not a criticism of the press - it's simply how it would have been.

If Tony Blair was in court for speeding, the headline wouldn't just be “Sedgefield man in the dock”. It would be more like “PM faces driving ban”. Even though his job would have nothing to do with the court case, it would be his position that would make the story newsworthy.

So it is only fair on NCISA, the club and the city council that the association has a new chairman. I shall remain a committee member and will continue to support NCISA but others will do the leading.

It has been a great privilege to lead NCISA and it is with more than a hint of sadness that I have made this decision.

I would like to place on record my heartfelt thanks to the dozens of people who have been on the committee over the years, as well as all the members.

Thanks also to those who have turned out for our numerous forums and events - your support has been greatly appreciated.

NCISA is a great organisation and will go from strength to strength. I am sure of it.

One of the last things I did as NCISA chairman was present our player-of-the-year trophy to Darren Huckerby this week. It was fully deserved, and let's hope for more of the same next year, Darren!

Also at the open day we were delighted to be able to give Darren a programme from 1997 when, as a Coventry player, he represented England at Under-21 level.

Darren hadn't kept anything like this during his career so was very pleased to receive it.

But special mention must also be made of Dion Dublin, who has been brilliant this year.

We don't know if Dion will be here again next season. If he is, that would be fantastic. If he isn't, we all wish him well.

Form is temporary, but class is permanent. He has been a credit to Norwich City and himself, both on and off the field.