Norwich City FD made interim CEO

NORWICH CITY FC director of finance Steve Stone has made the unexpected step up to interim CEO of the struggling Premier League side.

With the club’s relegation from the Premier League all but confirmed after a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United, CEO David McNally appeared to announce his resignation on Twitter.

Following the game, McNally replied to a fan who blamed him for a perceived lack of investment in the squad and the club’s resulting lack of on-field success. He tweeted: “I understand your view. I’ve resigned tonight and I hope the club can now progress.”

Hours later, though, McNally appeared to row back on his resignation, insisting he remained fully committed to the club.

He tweeted: “I take back what was said earlier. I remain fully committed to NCFC and to Delia [Smith, joint majority shareholder] and Michael [Wynn Jones, joint majority shareholder] and I’ve not resigned. My apologies.”

Both tweets were then deleted.

However, Norwich City confirmed on Monday that McNally had resigned and made Stone interim CEO.

“Everyone at Carrow Road wishes him all the very best for the future,” it said.

A statement on the club’s website said: “The board of directors had unanimously agreed to accept McNally’s resignation and would like to place on record their sincere gratitude for David’s game-changing contribution to the football club since he joined in the summer of 2009.

“David played a leading role as the club erased crippling debts and rose from the lower reaches of League One to the Barclays Premier League.

“Director of finance Steve Stone has been appointed interim chief executive and the board and everybody at the club is totally focused on supporting Alex and the players, as we head in to Wednesday night’s vital Premier League game against Watford at Carrow Road.”

Norwich lie second-bottom of the Premier League with two games remaining and will be relegated this week if results do not go their way.