Norwich City

Norwich City are facing a potential summer re-build after goalkeeper Angus Gunn, midfielder Jacob Sorensen and forward Onel Hernandez were released.

The Canaries are also on the search for a new permanent boss after Johannes Hoff Thorup was sacked and first team coach Jack Wilshere was placed in temporary charge.

BBC Radio Norfolk's Rob Butler and Chris Reeve have been reflecting on the 2024-25 season and discussing what should be on sporting director Ben Knapper's shopping list.

"It's surely getting to quite a large shopping list now?" Reeve said on The Scrimmage podcast.

"You might have a new manager on there, a new defence. You're certainly going to have a new goalkeeper, maybe two goalkeepers on there.

"There is no doubt about it, Angus Gunn on his day has been absolutely brilliant. How many points has he saved us? You can't even imagine how many he has.

"There have been many occasions where we've been on the ropes and he's got us out of trouble time after time.

"I'm just disappointed because of the family link. It's even more sad to see it fizzle out how it has. The comments from Angus are interesting. I'm sure the club will have their side of events as well."

Listen to the latest episode of The Scrimmage podcast on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Goalkeeper Angus Gunn says he wasn't given an explanation by Norwich City on the decision not to offer him a new contract.

The Scotland international spent four years as a permanent player at Carrow Road after a previous loan spell and played his final game for the club in the 4-2 win over Cardiff on Saturday.

Gunn says there "wasn't really a conversation" about his future and only had a "two-minute" chat with sporting director Ben Knapper last week in which he was told the Canaries wouldn't be putting a new deal on the table.

"There wasn't a reason that I got," Gunn told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"Obviously the club just want to go down a different route and I accept that and appreciate that.

"As a fan and player, I would've liked a conversation to see what we could do.

"But I'm a professional as well and I know what I'm worth and if this club is not going to align with that then I'm happy to go elsewhere."

The 29-year-old questioned the club's approach but said he's "really enjoyed" playing for the team he supported as a child.

"We've seen it last year with a few of the lads, they left it until after the play-off games to let them know and I don't think that's the way to do it," Gunn said.

"Maybe that's something they might look at or that's just the way they do it, I don't know.

"I managed to play in the Premier League for Norwich, I managed to play in the play-off semi-final.

"There are lots of special moments. There's not really one I can pinpoint but just the whole experience of playing for my boyhood club has been really special."

Gunn said it was also a "great period to enjoy" for his father Bryan, who spent 12 years with Norwich from 1986 to 1998.

"For me to achieve what I've achieved here and play 172 games, I'm just happy I'm making my family proud," Gunn added.

Listen to Angus Gunn's full interview on BBC Sounds.

Rob Butler
BBC Radio Norfolk Canary Call presenter

Norwich City play their final Championship match of the season on Saturday (12:30 BST) with already-relegated Cardiff the visitors to Carrow Road.

The Canaries have nothing to play for so the main attraction for City fans is a chance to say goodbye to departing players Angus Gunn, Onel Hernandez and Jacob Sorensen.

Ahead of the game, caretaker head coach Jack Wilshere has been speaking to the media and here are some of the key points:

• Wilshere said he's ok following his London Marathon effort, but does have a sore ankle.

• He said doing the marathon is the hardest thing he has had to do mentally, but he added he may even do it again.

• Emi Marcondes will miss Saturday's game because of a sore back.

• Striker Ante Crnac could be back, but a decision will be made closer to the game.

• Winger Matej Jurasek is still unavailable but Wilshere said fans need to be patient as he will be a top player, in his opinion.

• "Morale was up after the game and we showed we can be difficult to beat". Wilshere said he was happy with the performance in the 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough last Saturday.

• Wilshere said it's likely the departing players will get minutes on the pitch on Saturday so they can say goodbye to fans.

• USA international Josh Sargent won City's player of the season award, Wilshere says he's a leader in the dressing room and the honour is richly deserved.

You can listen to full live commentary of Norwich City versus Cardiff City with BBC Radio Norfolk. Coverage begins at 12:00 BST on FM and DAB.

Relegated Cardiff City will look to end their dismal season on a high when they visit Norwich City on Saturday (12:30 BST).

A victory over the Canaries could mean the Bluebirds don't complete their time in the Championship this year bottom of the pack, a place they currently reside.

Cardiff will then go again next year in League One with a new manager at the helm, something that is also the case for Norwich in next season's Championship campaign.

The Canaries are winless in six and have seen their promotion hopes dashed by a much poorer second half of the season, now finding themselves firmly in the midtable and without a permanent boss.

• Norwich City have won three of their last four league games against Cardiff City (L1), scoring 2+ goals in each of those victories.

• Cardiff City will be looking to complete just a second league double over Norwich City in the EFL after winning the reverse fixture 2-1 in November last year (also in 2017-18).

• Norwich have failed to win any of their last five final league games of a season (D1 L4), conceding exactly five goals in two of those defeats.

• After winning each of their four final games of a league campaign that came away from home between 2015 and 2022, Cardiff have since lost their last two via a three-goal margin.

• Norwich's Jack Wilshere and Cardiff's Aaron Ramsey will face as managers for the first time, six years and 251 days after the last Premier League game in which both featured, with Wilshere playing for West Ham against Ramsey's Arsenal in August 2018. The pair both played in the same match for Arsenal in the Premier League 71 times, most recently in May 2018 against Burnley.

Image source, Rex Features

Full-back Jack Stacey says Norwich City players want Jack Wilshere to be appointed as full-time boss at Carrow Road.

The 29-year-old played alongside Wilshere for former club Bournemouth in 2020-21 and was handed a more attacking role on the flank at Middlesbrough on Saturday in Wilshere's first game in interim charge, having replaced Johannes Hoff Thorup four days earlier.

Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk at a special Norwich City Fans' Social Club evening at the Lion and Castle pub at Carrow Road, Stacey said: "We have complete trust in the board to pursue whoever they think is the best man for the job.

"Personally, and I think I can speak for all of the changing room, I think we'd be delighted for Jack to get it.

"You always want a manager that shows belief in you. The way he's come in and instilled confidence into individual players, it makes you want to do well for him and feel you can perform to your best."

The club have begun to play music to loosen up during their training sessions under Wilshere and Stacey admitted: "It can sound silly but for me it's about getting that enjoyment back into the football.

"Throughout my career I've played my best football because you feel free and can go onto the pitch and try things.

"It is about trying to get that freedom back and the positivity – I think the fans want to see it and maybe they saw a little more of it in the last game."

Stacey has been involved in all 48 of City's games this season, appearing in 43 of them and remaining on the bench in five Championship games, and admitted he was surprised the club had parted ways with Dane Thorup.

"Unfortunately football is a results business and that's the decision the club have made," added Stacey.

"It's never nice because it's always the human element of a nice man who worked extremely hard is now out of a job."

Image source, PA Media

Norwich City interim boss Jack Wilshere had a very busy - and tiring - weekend.

He took charge of the team for the first time in Saturday's goalless draw at Middlesbrough, which ended a run of three successive defeats for the Canaries.

Only hours later, however, the former Arsenal and England midfielder was on the start line for the London Marathon - more than 250 miles south of Teesside.

Despite that, he managed to complete the course in a time of 5 hours 4 mins and 33 secs on behalf of the British Heart Foundation.

Prior to the weekend, he said: "The charity I'm running for is really close to my heart and when you have that in your mind and are determined to do something, you'll do it. I might be in a bad way, but I'll complete it."

Great effort, Jack.

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City defender Ruairi McConville says he has a lot to thank former boss Johannes Hoff Thorup for.

The Danish coach was sacked by the Canaries last week following a run of just one win from 10 Championship games.

Northern Ireland international cConville made just his second start of the season in Saturday's goalless draw at Middlesbrough having been signed by Thorup from Brighton & Hove Albion in February.

"It's my first experience of something like this happening but I'm forever grateful to Johannes because he brought me here, gave me the opportunities and taught me a lot in the short space of time I was with him," McConville told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"We all have a respect that he had his way - we all know how tough it is in this league and unfortunately it didn't go our way at times but we didn't stop fighting and wanted it as much as anybody.

"Every single player on the pitch (against Middlesbrough) had something to play for - we all want to go on and do good things and it starts with performing on the pitch."

Norwich finish their season at home to relegated Cardiff on Saturday (12:30 BST) and can finish anywhere between 12th and 17th.

Image source, Rex Features

Norwich City interim coach Jack Wilshere has said it's been an "emotional week" following his side's 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough.

Johannes Hoff Thorup was sacked on Tuesday as Canaries boss having won just 14 out of 47 games home and away from Carrow Road with former Arsenal and England midfielder Wilshere taking charge until the end of the season.

"I'm so proud of them," Wilshere told BBC Radio Norfolk after the match. "When you go through a week like we have, emotions all over place.

"The focus was to try and create something like that, to be harder to play against.

"The challenge was can we keep a clean sheet, can we stay in the game. We know we've got quality going forward and another day those goals go in.

"The response from everyone, not just the players, the fans as well but also the staff that have supported me that have come together behind me.

"It's been a really emotional week for me personally but I would say for a lot of people as well."

Image source, BBC Radio Norfolk

Norwich City travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday (15:00 BST) with Jack Wilshere in the dugout as caretaker manager after the club sacked Johannes Hoff Thorup on Tuesday.

He will be in charge this weekend as well as for the Carrow Road match with Cardiff on the final day of the season.

Before the game, Wilshere has been speaking to the media and here are some of the key points:

• Wilshere says the job this week has been to improve the mood around the training ground - and it has gone well.

• He did attend his golf day yesterday and will run the London Marathon on Sunday for causes close to his heart.

• On Thorup's sacking - Wilshere says he really enjoyed his time with Johannes and believed in the process they were working on.

• "I'll let the dust settle and speak to Johannes because I've learnt a lot from him."

• Wilshere says he did not even have to think about taking the caretaker job when it was offered to him.

• Wilshere was called by Ben Knapper on Tuesday and asked to take charge. They spoke about the team and what is expected.

• Does he want the job? "I understand you're going to ask that question. I made the decision to come here and leave Arsenal - I thought that was an important part of my journey in coaching. I feel like I am ready to be a head coach at this level and make an impact, but I know the next two games are important."

• "It's important for me to send a message that this is not about me. My job is to lift the players for the next two games and not make it about me.

You can listen to full live coverage of Norwich City at Middlesbrough with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM and DAB, Saturday from 14:00 BST.

Middlesbrough are three points short of the Championship play-off places after a run of three defeats from their past four games.

Norwich City sacked boss Johannes Hoff Thorup on Tuesday having dropped to 14th in the table.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their past six league games against Norwich City (W4 D2), after losing five in a row against them.

• Norwich City have lost their past two away games against Middlesbrough in the Championship, while they last lost three in a row away to them in league competition in October 1980.

• Middlesbrough have won four of their past five home league matches (L1), with all four of those victories coming by a one-goal margin. Indeed, their last one was a 2-1 victory, with Tommy Conway scoring the winner in the 93rd minute.

• Norwich City have lost their past three league matches, and could lose four in a row in the Championship for the first time since November 2023, under David Wagner.

• Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz has both created the most chances (82) and had the most shots (115) of any player in the Championship this season.

"It just seems so knee jerk. Given the situation they are both in, just at least maybe wait until the end of the season and have a bit of planning and have the conversations."

While Omar Riza's exit from Cardiff City came as no real surprise, what about the other two of the Championship's most recent managerial departures?

West Bromwich Albion sacked Tony Mowbray after a 3-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Derby County saw their chances of the play-offs become increasingly remote, while Norwich City removed Johannes Hoff Thorup from his post following a run of poor form.

The 72+ podcast team sit down to discuss all three managerial departures and give their thoughts on whether the clubs made the right decision in starting afresh before the season concludes in less than two weeks.

Listen to the full episode and more on the Football Daily podcast.