CITY fans got a chance to meet the Norwich management team today, when Bryan Gunn, Ian Butterworth and Ian Crook appeared at the Canary Store in The Mall.

The Canary trio signed autographs and chatted with fans, kicking off a half-term week full of appearances by Norwich staff and players. At the same time as Gunn and his team answered questions put to them by fans young and old, Lee Croft and David Marshall paid a visit to the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society, where they too met City supporters.

Asked how the fans had reacted to him, Butterworth and Crook today, the Canary boss told First News he'd been delighted with the response of supporters: "Everyone's been giving us their best wishes and asking us to make sure we stay in the Championship," he said. "I'm glad that's the theme all the fans are sticking to, there's been no negative comments at all today and I think it's important that us as a management team and the players get out into the community and make sure we show the fans that we do care about the Club as well.

"We need everyone to pull in the same direction and that's something we spoke to the players about after the game at the weekend. It's going to be a busy week because we've got commitments to all our community projects - Football in the Community, some with our sponsors Aviva and obviously our appearances in places like in the Canary Store, The Mall."

Gunn continued: "It's important we make sure we go out, mix with the fans and then we get a feeling for the passion they have as well. There's 13 games to go and with everyones support, hopefully we can get the right result.

"What we get back from the community is massive, so we must support the projects which are already in place, all the players have commitments this week which they'll fulfil. With the right dedication from fans and players, we should get the right results at the end of it all."

Tonight sees first team coach Ian Crook take control of the reserve game against Barnet at Carrow Road (7.30pm). Gunn told canaries.co.uk he was looking forward to watching the match, which he said the featured players could only benefit from: "I'll be watching our reserve team and hope the players on show will come through without any injuries, and the players will gain match fitness. It's important that we have a full squad to pick from for the 13 remaining games.

"All the players are coming down to watch tonight and it's a team effort - the word 'togetherness' has been used before at the Club and I think that's crucial at this stage of the season."

With his side 20th in the division, and a number of important Championship clashes this evening, questions were put to Gunn about the precarious position the Canaries currently find themselves in. "We're not concentrating on what other clubs do," he added. "It's what we do that's important.

"We've got 13 games to accumulate as many points as possible and we're focussed on that. We had a team meeting on Monday to discuss that and the players know my feelings and it's good to know the players are thinking the same as well. It's what we do, and what we do only, that will get us out of the situation we're in and that's what we all have to focus on.

"The atmosphere after the Barnsley game, if we can recreate that on Saturday against Burnley I'm sure that will help the players and the coaching staff."

On the significance of Norwich remaining in the Championship, the City boss made it crystal clear that it was his, and his sides's, number one aim: "What we achieve will be down to ourselves with the help of our supporters and to have 25,000 every week - we'd much rather play in front of 25,000 people at Carrow Road next season than, with no disrespect to the likes of Cheltenham, Hartlepool and Oldham, crowds of under 5,000.

"We stress the importance of the Championship to Norwich City and the players realise that. It's really getting down to the nitty-gritty now and getting them focussed on the matches we've got ahead and getting as many points as possible."