RICK WAGHORN Norwich City chairman Roger Munby today spoke of the board's “acute concern” over recent results - but insisted they would stand by under-fire manager Nigel Worthington.

RICK WAGHORN

Norwich City chairman Roger Munby today spoke of the board's “acute concern” over recent results - but insisted they would stand by under-fire manager Nigel Worthington.

Munby said the directors were determined to stick with the policy of “togetherness” that has characterised the club over the past five years.

Sunday's disastrous 2-1 home defeat by Ipswich Town in the East Anglian derby has added to the sense of deep misgiving gathering around Carrow Road.

But Munby said that, working alongside Worthington, the board had “absolute confidence” that the Carrow Road ship could first be steadied and then steered in the right direction.

“The soft option is to make changes,” said Munby, after Sunday's fourth successive home defeat brought a 150-strong crowd out on to the street demanding a managerial change.

“The tougher one is actually to stick to what you believe in. And by sticking together, then you are both better informed and better equipped to deal with and monitor the situation.

“And from the newest arrival on the pitch, right through the management team, Nigel and on to Delia, we are as one. And we must stick to that.”

Clearly intent on countering claims of complacency as City's hopes of a late charge into the play-off positions all but disappeared, Munby insisted the supporters' pain was shared by each and every member of the board. Swallowing Sunday's performance wasn't easy - for anyone.

“Both as a board and as fans, we are acutely concerned about the performances of the team,” he said.

“And did Sunday hurt? Yes, intensely. Sunday was a very difficult, emotionally-charged experience and one that took a number of hours to get out of our system.

“But we kept our own counsel, kept our eyes and ears to the ground, made sure that we took on board the views of our supporters across the whole spectrum of our fan base and moved on from there.

“And that invloves doing everything we, as a board, can do to help the team manager and his staff in terms of producing the kind of turnaround that we all wish to see.”