CHRIS LAKEY Canaries legend Dave Stringer has ruled out a surprise comeback to professional football at Carrow Road. The name of Stringer, who took City to two FA Cup semi-finals and fourth place in the top flight, has been put forward by a number of angry fans demanding the axe for current boss Nigel Worthington.

CHRIS LAKEY

Canaries legend Dave Stringer has ruled out a surprise comeback to professional football at Carrow Road.

The name of Stringer, who took City to two FA Cup semi-finals and fourth place in the top flight, has been put forward by a number of angry fans demanding the axe for current boss Nigel Worthington.

But Stringer, now 61, says he has no plan to come out of retirement.

“I am retired and I am happy, at it happens,” said Stringer. “I do work at Carrow Road on match days as a host and that is the only role I have there.”

Stringer's name was mentioned by a number of speakers at last Thursday's public meeting, called by the Norwich City Independent Supporters' Association, and has since cropped up on websites on numerous occasions.

Some have called for Stringer to be given a role as a director of football while others suggested he become a co-opted member of the board of directors, offering first-hand knowledge of the game.

However, Stringer - who played 499 games in 11 years for Norwich - said both options were out of the question.

“I really don't know if they would be starters,” he said. “Nigel is the most important man at the club, he is the man responsible for what goes on. It's his job, full stop.

“I would not offer my services and I would not interfere - I have not had that sort of input in the football club for quite some time now. I don't want to see any more pressure on the manager than there is anyway, that wouldn't be fair.”

Stringer said fans might just have to be patient and wait for the good times to return to Carrow Road.

“They have had success in the past and hopefully it will happen again,” he said.

“Sometimes you have to accept the rough with the smooth, you have good time sand you have bad times and you have to get through them.”

Stringer knows about both good and bad times during his five-year tenure: his final days at Carrow Road were in May 1992, in the wake of a successful battle against relegation when he recognised his time had come.

“I had had enough,” he said. “I said at the time I had reached my sell-by date and I still believe that.”