Norwich City: Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones on Stuart Webber exit

The Welshman's decision to resign was officially announced by the Canaries on Tuesday but he will remain in post for his notice period - which runs until next March - and assist the club with a handover if required. 

Webber has played a massive role in shaping the footballing direction of the club since his appointment as the club's first-ever sporting director when he arrived from Huddersfield Town back in 2017. 

The 39-year-old, who has been linked heavily with Leeds United and an unnamed team in La Liga, has guided Norwich to two Championship titles alongside Daniel Farke but also spearheaded two disappointing relegations from the Premier League. 

He has also played a significant role in improving City's Colney training centre and innovative initiatives throughout the footballing side of the business like their first foray into South America.

Criticisms have also been consistent in recent years - with frustrations over some of his comments at public appearances and recruitment decisions. 

Smith and Wynn Jones have paid a glowing tribute to Webber after his decision to leave the club.

"When Stuart came to our home in early March to inform us he wanted to leave at the end of his contract we were devastated - whilst we obviously respected his decision," the pair told club channels.

"In our 28 years of serving this great football club, we have never worked with such a talent.

"Stuart Webber has been an outstanding servant to this football club and built a strong foundation for the future. We are very sad to lose him, owe him much gratitude and want to wish him all the very best for the future."

Norwich will pursue an external appointment following Webber's decision to depart and have already started the recruitment process to find their next sporting director. 

That won't be Neil Adams, who has served as Webber's deputy since 2021, as the Norwich legend will be taking up the revived role of technical director and will continue to support Norwich's footballing departments. 

Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones have paid tribute to Stuart Webber. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

DELIA SMITH AND MICHAEL WYNN JONES FULL STATEMENT VIA NORWICH CITY'S CHANNELS

When Stuart came to our home in early March to inform us he wanted to leave at the end of his contract we were devastated - whilst we obviously respected his decision. In our 28 years of serving this great football club we have never worked with such a talent.

The list of his achievements is endless: principally, how is it that a self-funding club has managed to achieve so much in six short years? Two promotions, two trophies. Signing the very best and highest-scoring championship striker - on a free! - not to mention signing Buendia for peanuts and selling him for millions. And altogether bringing in a grand total of £80 million plus profit and astute add-on deals we are yet to benefit from player trading.

By all accounts we are one of the first English clubs to employ South American scouts with Brexit threatening the European market. Add to that a state-of-the-art football academy and, over the six years, on average 24 per cent of minutes per game in which academy players have featured. He has also brought in a hugely talented team of staff at all levels in the training ground.

We personally owe him a great deal. He has always alerted us when staff or wives have babies or bereavements so we can be in touch, arranged for us to entertain injured players and their families before matches and sometimes asked us to attend persuasive dinners with their agents.

In terms of unity and mutual support we are a completely different football club to the one he joined in 2017.

Stuart Webber has been an outstanding servant to this football club and built a strong foundation for the future. We are very sad to lose him, owe him much gratitude and want to wish him all the very best for the future.