CITY Chief Executive David McNally took part in a live webchat on Wednesday, December 22 in which he fielded questions from Canary supporters sent in to him via e-mail and Twitter.
Here is a full transcript of the questions David answered during the hour-long online discussion:
David McNally - Afternoon everybody and firstly on behalf of everybody at the the Football Club I'd like to wish all of our supporters a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
I am quite disappointed that I have to pay adult price for my season ticket despite being at university, there is no way my financial capabilities are the same as a working adult. Is this a permanent move? - Damien Distill
David McNally - I'm pleased to confirm that our under-21 season ticket continues to represent tremendous value for the new season. At £7.52 per game in the Barclay, for example, we think this is an exceptional price for our supporters of this age.
Hello, I am David Lee from Hong Kong, a 18 years Norwich City fans who was borned in Hong Kong. I was very interested about our shirt, xara have been with us for nearly 10 years now, and I won't disagree the quality of xara is not the best. Our current home shirt only run this season, so next season, are you able to get some brand name liked UMBRO or adidas to make our shirt? Also I hope the fans will have the full range of trainingwear liked 3/4 pants and training vest will be available to buy in the clubshop. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
David McNally - Thank you for your question David and your loyal support from so many miles away from Carrow Road! Our kit manufacturing contract is under review currently and a new contract will be in place from the start of next season. We aim to offer exceptional quality and real value for money and these objectives will be key in the selection process that follows.
Hi David,
I have heard and read quite a few complaints from season ticket holders who fall into this category and are understandably angry . Could the change not have been 'phased in' over a number of years, as is happening with pensions, bus passes etc. Also, I am slightly perplexed by the decision not to offer fans the opportunity to purchase their season ticket for a few years in advance, as has been the practice in precious years.
I have been a season ticket holder for a number of years now and certainly in the area where I sit (Lower N&P), a tiny minority of seats have changed hands over the years, but I was talking to one lady at the Portsmouth game and she was saying that she will not be renewing her seat after 25 years as a season ticket holder.
Alex Alexander
David McNally - Dear Alex, our revised pricing policy for next season has led to some debate. Clearly our ticketing income is a key part of our business plan and it is an essential part of our support of Paul and his football plans. Our supporters in this age group, 60-64, have received an exceptional discount for many years now. Quite simply, the Club could not afford it and therefore cannot continue it. Why should other adults, in the Barclay, Snakepit or elsewhere subsidise the tickets of these supporters, many of whom will still be working or indeed can afford to pay the adult price. We were not surprised to receive some objections from this group because they had received such a generous discount for so long. That being said, our adult season ticket prices still represent tremendous value for money and we do hope that all supporters will renew their season ticket for next season.
Dear David,
I was wondering would the club be selling some key players such as Grant Holt in the January transfer window to help try and clear the club's debt and would this mean the club would no longer be a buying club? Also, I have heard that Paul Lambert has given a list of three players to the board of who he would like to sign in January. With the amount of money the club has how many players on Paul's list could you bring in and could you reveal which players these are?
Thanks,
Olly Clitheroe from Framingham Earl, Norwich
David McNally - Olly thank you for your question and bear with me because your question deserves a lengthy answer. Firstly, the Club has recently announced the conclusion of a successful financial restructuring. This is now complete and is a really important milestone for the Football Club. It means that we can plan ahead with some real certainty.
The Club is under absolutely no pressure to sell any players this January. If we did decide to sell a player, Paul Lambert would be the key decision-maker and 100 per cent of any monies from any sale would be used to reinvest in the squad.
I can also confirm that we have not had any recent offers for any of our players. Paul has identified a few players that he would like to bring to your great football club and work is well underway in attempting to complete some business. For competitor reasons we cannot reveal the names of these players, but rest assured our supporters will be the first to know once any business is concluded.
One down, 6 to go! How realistic is the "7 year plan"? Can we really expect NCFC to be an established Premier League club?
From Tim McGregor, Great Yarmouth
David McNally - Dear Tim, by the end of the seven-year plan we will be an FA Premier League Club and whilst we have a long way to go we have made significant progress on and off the field over the last 18 months and everyone at the Football Club is focused on the same two objectives; we must do everything we can to support our first team and serve our supporters. But we know that if we all work together, the owners, the rest of the Board, Paul and his great team and most importantly our supporters, we can achieve absolutely anything at this Football Club. And be further assured that whilst we are giving ourselves three years to get out of the Championship, we are all doing all we can to help Paul and the team win every football match.
@MoffyRayner asks via Twitter: @NorwichCityFC #ncfc. Why do NCFC not participate in the TICKETS FOR TROOPS scheme? Many other clubs greater and lesser do? 'OTBC in DPM'
David McNally - Dear @MoffyRayner we will look into the Tickets for Troops scheme and if there is something we can do to further support these wonderful people we will do. As you know we have a very vibrant supporter club Forces2Canaries and we were all very proud at the Football Club when we had as our guests servicemen from the Light Dragoons, the Royal Anglians and RAF Marham at a game last season.
@DoctorBenjy asks via Twitter: @NorwichCityFC What's the price on Grant Holt, rumours are about and is he simply not for sale or does he have a Premier League price? #ncfc
David McNally -Dear @DoctorBenjy as we stated earlier the Club is under no pressure to sell any of our players. We can't do anything about rumours though and occasionally busy agents will attempt to unsettle players. This does lead to unfortunate speculation from time to time. Just to confirm though we have not had any offers for any players in advance of the forthcoming window.
David,
Could you please provide the latest information on Wes Hoolahan and his contract. It is my understanding that in January other clubs can come in and offer the player a pre-contract and he would leave Norwich for nothing. What are the club doing to prevent this and has a new contract offer been made to Hoolahan?
I am very concerned of losing our most technically gifted player.
James Kent
David McNally - For confidentiality reasons I cannot comment on individual contracts but I do have two points to make following your question. Firstly if a player is out of contract next summer he can only sign a pre-contract agreement with another club if they are members of a different football association, i.e outside of England. I must stress that despite what our local press have indicated in the past, players cannot sign pre-contract agreements with clubs from the same country. Secondly, and most importantly, the Club is currently content with its position regarding first team squad contracts and we are not at risk of losing any senior player on a 'Bosman' free transfer this January or next summer.
@ReynardCity (Robert Turner) asks via Twitter: @NorwichCityFC Mr McNally- What appointment are you more proud of: Hodgson to Fulham or Lambert to Norwich?
David McNally - Dear Robert, Roy did very well over the last few years at Fulham and was rightly named manager of the year last season. Paul Lambert produced some astonishing results last year and was also rightly acclaimed manager of the season for League One. They are both great managers and all I will say is that we are all very pleased that Paul Lambert is the manager of Norwich City.
Good Afternoon David
myself and my dad are both season ticket holders in the 'famous' Barclay lower and have been since i was 5years old (i'm now 31) and are currently loving our football over the past 2 seasons. I'd just like to say and on behalf of ALL NCFC supporters a big thank you to yourself as i believe none of this would be possible if it was'nt for your arrival, including Paul Lambert coming to the club. The press praise the manager, delia and of course the players but a massive part is down to you and i think that goes un-noticed so thank you so much for putting belief back into this sleeping giant of a football club and lets go for it this season as this is a chance we must take with the league being so tight, Thanks David - OTBC ,James from Great Yarmouth
David McNally - Dear James, thank you for your kind words and we will all give Paul all the help that he needs this season.
As I say, thank you for your kind words but all of the credit for our recent return to form must go to Paul Lambert and his incredible team.
Finally though, in my opinion, Delia Smith has made an enormous contribution to Norwich City Football Club and her part in ensuring our survival should never be underestimated.
@ElliotRossF1 asks via Twitter: @NorwichCityFC Hi, is there any upcoming investment in the club? And is investment vital to getting into the premier league?
David McNally - Dear @ElliotRossF1, following the recent financial restructuring, the Club is not under any pressure to find new external investors. That being said, we are focused on paying down our debts when we can from the sale of non-core, non-football assets and every spare penny from our football club activities is then reinvested in the first team squad. Our seven-year plan does not include any external investment and it's not vital in getting your club back into the Premier League. What is vital is that the football manager, his team, the supporters and the Board all do what they can to achieve the same aim.
A number of clubs have either been in administration or very close to it in the last year or so. In nearly every case one of the principle reasons is that HMRC have not been paid, leading to them taking legal action. As of 19th December NCFC should have paid over ALL income tax and national insurance on salaries for November. Depending on exactly
when its VAT quarter ends there should, at most, be no more than 3-4 months VAT outstanding, probably fewer. Is the club currently up to date with all payments due to HMRC?
Wandering Star, Cheshire
David McNally - Hi Wandering Star, I can confirm the Club is fully up to date with its liabilities as they fall due to HMRC.
Well thanks everybody for this lively Q&A session. We have attempted to answer all of the most popular questions and don't forget that we are contactable by e-mail via media@ncfc-canaries.co.uk or by Twitter where you can speak to me @davidmcnally62, our Head of Media Joe Ferrari @joe_ferrari or our New Media Journalist Steve Garland @SDGarland - and of course please follow the Club's official Twitter service @norwichcityfc.
I'll finish by wishing you all a peaceful Christmas. See you at Selhurst Park.
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