CITY'S Chief Executive David McNally says every penny of the £359,304 generated by supporters not claiming their season ticket rebates will go straight to Bryan Gunn's first team player budget.

Norwich City Director Michael Foulger has matched that sum, bringing the total going directly to the playing budget to £718,608.

Out of the current total of 18,481 season ticket holders signed up for next season, 11,707 claimed their rebates while 6,774 decided not to. In monetary terms this means out of a £1,076,907 total rebate pot, £717,603 was claimed and £359,304 was not.

Speaking to canaries.co.uk, McNally said he saluted every single season ticket holder:  "I'm staggered at the fantastic support we've had from Norwich City supporters. To get almost 19,000 season ticket holders following such a disappointing end to the last campaign is just incredible, so all supporters must be really thanked for their on-going commitment in difficult economic times.

"Clearly we benefit from those supporters who have not claimed their rebate, and we're really thankful for their support as we are with Michael Foulger's on-going commitment. We are absolutely focussed on one thing - trying to give Bryan Gunn the best opportunity  to take this Club forward, and to put us in a position where we are very competitive next season. We're doing everything we can to raise every extra penny, every extra pound, to help the first team squad.

"We're looking at every opportunity and every avenue we can go down to get some extra cash to make the pot of money Bryan has as big as possible. This is the first significant step in that direction, and we've been very clear throughout that we're very grateful to receive anything from supporters at this stage."

He continued: "There is a Premier League infrastructure here in terms of the ground and facilities. Clearly, we're facing some disappointing times in terms of where we find ourselves playing next season and we have to do something about that.

"But we've got good people here who can help get us back to the level we need to be at - it's going to be tough, but provided we're all together and going in the same direction then we can do it. Bryan will be given every support in order to put on to the pitch a winning and competitive team next year."

Norwich Director Foulger told First News: "This money will all go straight to the manager's player budget, and he'll have it to work with at the end of this month. The three players we have already signed are part of the budgeted sum we already had in mind. All of the supporters who have signed up for season tickets next year have made a financial commitment to their football club, whether they chose to claim their rebate or not, and their loyalty is to be applauded.

"We're continuing to look for further investment, and although we know it's difficult for people to commit I'm sure there will be something there - I shall continue to support wherever I can. The fixtures are out, the Royal Norfolk Show is next week and the players are back - in three weeks' time we've got the first friendly, so we can finally start to look forward."

Season ticket holders who have claimed their rebate will start receiving their money from August - with those who have purchased their tickets in full receiving cheques for the rebate amount while direct debits will be amended from August to February.