NCFC
Hello and welcome to the latest webchat with majority shareholder and board director Delia Smith.

Delia Smith
Hi everybody, what a lovely week it is for me to be doing this. Keep the questions coming!

NCFC
A question we had on email in advance:
We have now learnt that the hearing between Norwich City and Colchester United is to take place next week at the Football League. What is Delia's view of what she think will happen - the question no supporter wants to ask is does she think there is a possibility of a points penalty?

Thanks
Ian Berry

Delia Smith
Hi Ian and all who have raised this question. You're quite right, the hearing is on Monday, but unfortunately the lawyers have to be obeyed and I'm not able to make any comment - but I'm sure you'll all hear the result very quickly.

NCFC
Another from email:
I'd like to congratulate the board on what's proved to be the inspired appointment of Paul Lambert.

But what measures can be taken now to ensure he's not lured away by Celtic or by a Premiership club?

Chris Young, Truro, Cornwall
Cornwall Canaries

Delia Smith
Thank you for your congratulations Chris. Paul has assured us all he's extremely happy here, both with the Club and the supporters. A couple of weeks ago I did say that he ever wanted to leave, I would lie down in Carrow Road and prevent his car from leaving! But joking apart, we can assure all of you that we will do everything in our power to keep Paul here.

NCFC
From the emails on Tuesday afternoon:
Hi Delia,

Yourself and the board took some flack last year when times were not so good. Delia a huge thank you now for the decisions you made at the beginning of the season. Would you have made the same decisions had we only lost 1-0 to Colchester?

All the best Delia and thanks again
Kevin

Delia Smith
Hi Kevin, getting flak is nothing new and it goes with the territory. I'm glad you thought our decisions were good and I can't answer precisely what would have happened but I can tell you we were monitoring everything very carefully and we knew that if things didn't go well we would have to act quickly.

NCFC
Could you tell us if you will be investing the money you make from the Waitrose advertising campaign in the football club?

Kind regards
Nikki

Delia Smith
Hi Nikki, I'll take one of your questions and I'm delighted to tell you that the deal with Waitrose means that they themselves are investing in the Football Club with a very generous sponsorship for Delia's Canary Catering. They are here today at one of our food and wine workshops.

Adam K
Is an open top bus parade / civil ceremony over the top for winning League One?

Guest
I think David McNally was the best signing this club made in the close season, setting the ball rolling for making this a successfull season and that is something, yourself, Michael and Michael deserve credit for. Will we see you all on the City Hall balcony in a few weeks time?

Delia Smith
Hi Adam, I can confirm today that we have had an invitation from City Hall inviting the Club to a civic reception. Whether this happens or not will depend on the Manager, the team and the supporters. We will comply with whatever they want.

Richard
Hi Delia, what difference has the new boardroom members made since replacing Neil Doncaster et al? Dou you think we would be in the same posiion now if changes hadn't been made?

Delia Smith
Hi Richard, last year at the Valley, Michael and I left the match and over a glass of wine in a pub by the River Thames we both felt that there had to be some changes and we both felt determined to do all we could to make those changes. Looking back now those changes have fulfilled our wildest dreams and more.

Laurence
With the Deloitte report now in what is the latest with regard to investment. Some serious investment now would help us enormously to compete in the transfer market this summer.

Delia Smith
Hi Laurence, we would echo that. Deloitte continue their search, which is not yet completed. However, like you, we all live in hope and who knows because we are better placed now than we were.

Suffolk Yellow
Richard Balls was mystified that you and Michael made no comment after the fantastic Charlton win. Was there a reason for that?

Delia Smith
Hello Suffolk Yellow, the last time I talked to the press at the kit launch Steve Gedge had a pop. We didn't talk to the press on Saturday and Richard Balls has a pop. Two things to say - one is we felt last Saturday belonged to Paul and the players, secondly I want to say a big thank you to Richard because I've always wanted to be 'mysterious! If we are fortunate enough to win the title I will be there with open arms.

NCFC
From the emails yesterday:
Hello Delia, things certainly feel better this year than last, personally I have loads of things I could ask, but will restrict myself to one question.

Will the club be able to match Paul Lambert's ambitions?

Thank You,
Paul.

Delia Smith
Hi Paul, we've had planning meetings with Paul and I think both the Chairman and the Chief Executive are doing a fantastic job with the finances and our aim is to give Paul a very competitive budget for next season.

Kieran Brady
Hi Delia, What do you think is a realistic target for Norwich next season? Thanks.

Delia Smith
Hi Keiran, with Paul and his team, and the squad we will assemble for next year all I can say is we are going to go for it - and with player recruitment being a key part of that, we're hoping to have some exciting news regarding the appointment of a Chief Scout shortly - watch this space!

Ade
Who would you say your Player of the Season is?

Ben
Hi Delia, who would be your Player of the Season from our squad?

Delia Smith
Hi, there are so many players of the season! All I can say is don't forget to vote everyone.

NCFC
Another one from the emails we received during the week:
Hello Delia,

I'm sure most fans are as pleased as I am that we have won promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt but many fans are still unhappy about last seasons relegation and blame you for all the ills of the club. They write on message boards that the club is a shambles through successive poor managerial appointments and your prudence before ambition policy. They claim you refuse to price the club reasonably and won't let any investors in if it means losing your majority share. How do you feel when you read these things and what drives you on to carry on spending more and more of your own money knowing some fans feel this way?

Here's to being Champions on Saturday.
Best wishes
Eddie.

Delia Smith
Hi Eddie, thank you, I think this is a really good question and one I want to answer. Just for the record, prudence with ambition was never a policy of mine or Michael's otherwise we'd be about £12million better off! We have never priced the Club and prior to the Deloitte search we have only had one offer of cash which was for £1! Losing our majority shareholding is not, I repeat not, a problem, if it helps the Football Club. How do I feel and what drives me to carry on? What I assume we both share, and that is a deep love of our football club.

Daniel Jemy
Hello Delia, are there any plans for pre-season fixtures yet?

Delia Smith
Hi Daniel, we hope to confirm shortly two games against Premier League clubs this summer.

Warren
Do you think that the Premier League is a possibility in the next 5 years?

Delia Smith
Hi Warren, the new Board planned from the start for the next seven years and we're one year ahead on returning to the Championship so we will obviously be all guns blazing now to get to the Premier League. So if you are asking in five years then certainly that is our intention.

Joe
Hi Delia, Gordon Ramsay or Jamie Oliver? : )

Delia Smith
Hi Joe, I love them both but Jamie is my man! Especially as he said he loved me last night on TV!

NCFC
From the emails:
Hello Delia, After last years relegation at The Valley, how did you feel on Saturday when we clinched promotion at the same place as last years misery?

Jake Gorrod

Bonney
Hi Delia, what emotions did you feel at Charlton hearing we'd been promoted?

Delia Smith
Hello Jake, when we arrived at the Valley on Saturday afternoon, the sun was shining as it was a year ago. But just being there brought back all the pain of that previous visit. It probably was the most difficult second half I've ever experienced and when the whistle finally went Michael and I were both really choked with emotion and for once in my life, I was speechless. We just clung to each other. Then it was back down to the River where a good deal of champagne was consumed!

Jon Cleland
Since your time at Norwich City would you say this is the best board we have had or as strong as the one that got us into the Premiership?

Delia Smith
Hi Jon, then as now, it was the players and the manager who got us promoted. As far as the Board goes it's our duty to serve you the supporters in the best possible way we can and I'm delighted with the way the current Board is working very closely to achieve this.

Darren
Why don't you sell the Club and let someone who actually really supports the Club take over rather than someone from Suffolk who was pictured in 1978 wearing an Ipswich scarf at a cup final at Wembley?

Delia Smith
Hi Darren, yawn yawn! We've said it before but let's just trot it out one more time I was NOT at Wembley! I was working for Multi-coloured Swap Shop and the joke was my rosette and hat were turned round to reveal the Norwich colours amidst very loud booing as we were filming in Christchurch Park, Ipswich. Meanwhile I'd like to thank all Canary fans who live in Norfolk, Suffolk, all around the country and indeed, all around the world.

Delia Smith
Hi everyone, last couple of questions!

Daniel
Grant Holt has had a brilliant first season for the Club and must be on the best buys the Club has made for a long time. Are there any reassurances that he will remain at the Club next season as I'm sure there will be interest in him when the transfer market re-opens.

Delia Smith
Thank you so much for your question Daniel, because it gives us a chance to thank all the supporters who did not ask for a rebate and Michael Foulger, who matched that generosity so that we were able to sign Grant Holt. Grant, like the rest of the team, has had a great season and we are delighted to confirm that he is on a long-term contract and he is really happy living and working in Norfolk.

Will Ellis
Hi there Delia, which game, for you, was the most satisfying on-field performance of the season?

Delia Smith
Hello Will, off the top of my head, Huddersfield at home on the 19th of December. Because I thought it was going to be the toughest game of the season because I think they're one of the best footballing sides in League One. I also think, like Paul, Lee Clark is one of the brightest young managers in the game and is sure to have a great future.

Delia Smith
Thanks, I could have gone on all day with this and I've really enjoyed it. Thank you everyone and I look forward to being with you on Saturday.