Press Statements

2nd July 2009

Are we the only voice of reason?

Whilst recognising the new season is only five weeks away and unity amongst supporters is important, the committee of the Norwich City Independent Supporters Association (NCISA) has concerns about the appointment of the club’s new directors.

NCISA’s committee is questioning the reasons behind the appointments.

John Tilson, chairman of the association, said, “Our previous chief executive was a board director and it did not work. Why hasn’t the club learned from this?

“The present majority shareholders absolutely assured the fans they were looking for new investment. Which of these directors has brought that to the table?

“And in appointing the managing director of Archant to the club’s board, can we assume there will be no further support for fans from local newspapers should things continue to go wrong at Carrow Road?

“Undoubtedly NCISA will receive criticism from some quarters for taking this stance, but we feel we must pose these questions on behalf of the large number of fans who passionately displayed their feelings at the public meeting in Saint Andrew’s Hall.”

“Of course, we must all get behind the team on the 8th August, but time will be the judge as to whether these appointments are good or bad. And NCISA will not be hypocritical by changing its stance without good reason - even at the eleventh hour.”

 

6th May 2009 ‘Emergency Public Meeting for all Fans’

The committee of Norwich City Independent Supporters Association (NCISA) has arranged an emergency public meeting for all Canaries fans.

The meeting will be held at

Saint Andrews Hall, Norwich

Thursday 14 May 2009 at 7.30pm

(doors open at 7.00pm)

At a special meeting held on Wednesday 6 May 2009, NCISA’s committee decided the present situation facing Norwich City Football Club required urgent feedback and decisions from all fans, not just members of various supporters groups.

NCISA’s Chairman, John Tilson, said, “To that end we have hired Saint Andrew’s Hall in Norwich and are urging as many Norwich City supporters as possible to attend the meeting.

“One item on the agenda will give people an opportunity to discuss the club’s belief that the majority of fans support the appointment of Bryan Gunn as team manager. We are not convinced this is the case. The only way of finding out is to give everybody the opportunity of putting their viewpoint forward.

“We also need to discuss the make-up of the club’s board and senior management team. It is important we identify the common denominators in successive failed management appointments.

“I strongly urge all fans to attend this meeting.

“The club has enjoyed a loyal solid fan base for a number of years. It is now up to that fan base to speak as one and make sure the club takes notice.”

5th May 2009 re State of Club

It is with great sadness following the relegation of our football club to the third tier

of English football that we think the prolonged decline of Norwich City Football Club

must be arrested. The mistakes made in recent years by the custodians of the club

 have been repetitive and disastrous. Lessons have not been learnt and as we look

 toward the 2009/2010 season we are in crisis.

Norwich City Independent Supporters Association wishes to place on record

 that it has no faith or confidence in the current make up of the boardroom,

 to make the correct appointments and decisions, in order that we reclaim

our rightful place in the football world.

Whilst accepting that those in control have acted in what they

 considered to be the best of intentions, unfortunately they have

 been responsible for those mistakes, and it cannot and must not continue.

NCISA demands that the board act quickly and decisively, and to this end a change of personnel must take place within the boardroom.

23rd January 2009 re Bryan Gunn

NCISA wishes to congratulate Bryan Gunn and the new management team on their appointment.

Bryan Gunn is without question a Norwich City legend. He is well liked and respected throughout the city and county by people not even connected with football, as a result of his charity work and being Sheriff of Norwich.

Welcome back also to two former City favourites Ian Crook and John Deehan.

The big question of course is 'Is this the dream team?' No one knows and only history will decide. If they have half the success they did as players then surely there can only be better times ahead. This is a new beginning for the football club. We have had dark days and false dawns in recent years and there will certainly be difficult times ahead.

The fans have been patient for a long time and between now and the end of the season at least, everybody needs to be singing from the same hymn sheet if we are to pull away from the bottom of the table. The management team, the board, the players and that vital ingredient without which the club cannot survive - the fans need to pull together as one. NCISA know that the fans will play their part in making the club upwardly mobile again and together we can help achieve the place in football Norwich City Football Club deserves.

2nd September 2008 re Turner's resignation:

John Tilson, chairman of Norwich City Independent Supporters Association, said the fans deserved to know the reasons for the Turner's departure. Just as we appeared to be heading in the right direction on the playing side, we appear to have boardroom upheaval. Call me a cynic, but the week before last when it appears this happened somebody else left the football club - Andrew Cullen (director of sales and marketing) who was a Norwich man through and through and I wonder if this is somehow connected. There are fans who are pro Delia, those who think her shelf-life is up and those who think she should have gone a while ago, but the fans have to stick together in this. It is a sad day for the club and we have a right to know what has happened. If it was a boardroom disagreement or if they have gone because of the credit crunch we should be told. It is no good these glib statements wishing people well. Talk is cheap, but there seems to be a big financial hole at the club and we need answers. With the Turners gone there is nobody on the board now who really has the financial expertise. There are business people, but not that level of expertise and the first name on the lips of many is going to be Peter Cullum.”

22nd July 2008 re Water bus:

Kathy Blake, Norwich City Independent Supporters' Association secretary, said: “I think it's a good idea but I don't know if it would work. Would there be 100 fans to pick up at Griffin Lane? But it's definitely worth trying.”

12th July 2008 re Peter Cullum situation:

Kathy Blake, Norwich City Independent Supporters Association secretary, said: “I hope the fans will be made fully aware of the details, otherwise I think there could be a bit of bad feeling about this.

“There are going to be a lot of disappointed fans and they need to know why this has happened. The devil is in the detail and it might be that the club have made a really good decision, but they are just not telling us enough for us to make a judgement.”

26th February 2008 re Mr Roy Blower

At the February committee meeting of Norwich City Independent Supporters Association, the former chairman and founder member Roy Blower, who had previously stood down from the position on becoming the Lord Mayor of Norwich, was unanimously elected as President in recognition of the service he has given the organisation since its formation in 1995.