Norwich City 2024 annual general meeting: The inside story

There were the same corporate logos, the same panel of board members, the same yellow and green lighting and the grand Gunn Club pillars and the weirdly wonderful questions. But characterising the meeting were two missing figures whose apologies were commenced with.

From the very start the absence of Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones was front and centre, their first omission in nearly 30 years and yet one at which their names were mentioned close to the most.

Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones were conspicuous by their absence (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) Nephew and board member Tom started the proceedings by paying tribute to them and prompting a round of applause matched only by those for Terry Allcock, Craig Shakespeare, the Community Sports Foundation and the description of a free membership gift as a "useless waste of money".

From there it was onto a video of highlights from the previous financial year both on and off the pitch, including a rapid montage of academy debutants, 12 months unbeaten at Carrow Road and the continuation of an impeccable derby day record. That too featured thanks to the previous owners.

Then it was onto the official business, which in legal terms are probably the most important part of the process but which few in attendance are especially interested in. Three votes took place, three votes were passed, with plenty of tentative hands up and zero objections.

As usual the question and answer section was the real main event, and less than 23 minutes in the queries had begun. As usual they offered a unique flavour, veering away from the sole footballing focus of press conferences or fan forums and towards matters of matchday experience, stadium redevelopment and supporter engagement.

City shareholders had the chance to ask questions at the meeting (Image: Adam Harvey/Newsquest) It was to Smith and Wynn Jones that things rapidly returned, however, executive director Zoe Webber paying her own tribute to their service and assuring that plans had been discussed for a fitting one by the club. She said they wanted little fuss, even if most in the room felt they deserved it.

Quickly on-pitch matters came up, sporting director Ben Knapper assessing the definition of "established Premier League club" before stating that he'd stick to his guns despite admitting the difficulty of the task at present.

Twenty-eight minutes in the legendary pair's replacement entered the fray, Mark Attanasio weighing in on that matchday experience after his own short speech praising the shareholders he's officially joint with until March next year. He admitted a touch of his American nature might be needed on the former, although he was reticent to do so.

Mark Attanasio's Norfolk Holdings will replace Smith and Wynn Jones as majority shareholders (Image: Adam Harvey/Newsquest) Things got slightly spicier when Borja Sainz's contract was brought into the discussion, Knapper making the same promise head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup previously has that talks have commenced before the line of questioning continued onto January funds.

The good news on that front was Attanasio confirming there would be some available, while he, finance director Anthony Richens and Knapper have already been discussing what they might do. "We will be alive to opportunities," said the latter.

Richens also made the rather interesting revelation that Jonathan Rowe's permanent move to Marseille will only be completed if they stay in the French top flight, although the chances of that are already remote for the third-placed side.

Sporting director Ben Knapper was quizzed on footballing matters (Image: Adam Harvey/Newsquest) There were further questions about stadium expansions (not currently an active situation), the women's team (whose aim is promotion), bright floodlights (which fit Premier League regulations) and Blakely (who have been pleased with how things have gone at the start of their three-year deal), before the evening finished on the typically AGM topic of Wi-Fi.

An hour and a half had flown by for those minority shareholders in the room, who went home with plenty of questions answered but many still to be by happenings on the pitch. Attanasio's Carrow Road stay was extended by a round of media appearances, as the beginning of the Norfolk Holdings era was seen in by communication with the wider fan base.

As he himself testified, many things will never change for this football club. But some certainly have.