Norwich City fans were both excited for the future and grateful to the club's current owners after news that Norfolk Holdings are set to take their shareholding up to 85pc.
Mark Attanasio's group will turn £59million of the club's debt into nearly 45pc of shares, becoming sole majority shareholders and bringing an end to 27 years of Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones at the top of the tree, subject to a Rule 9 waiver by independent shareholders.
The couple won't take a penny for their shares despite seeing them drop to just 10pc of the club as a result, and many supporters thanked them for their generosity.
Others looked ahead to what the deal might mean financially, debating the extent to which Attanasio's increased involvement changes things in future.
See the best of their social media reaction below.
Just the lift the #NCFC fans needed after the Rowe debacle.
— Freddie Humphry-Wakefield (@FreddieHumphry) August 12, 2024
Absolutely massive news for the club, hopefully the beginning of a new era https://t.co/6pIa0FMxn8
Reminder:
— Canaries Caption It (@Saund65) August 12, 2024
Back in 1997 when Delia & Michael took the reins at #NCFC, the typical home crowd was 12-15k with less than 10k for Birmingham in March 98.
We've come a long way thanks to their passion & perseverance.
The footballing landscape has changed beyond recognition. pic.twitter.com/Y3p8xyO7r3
Lots of people have complained about Delia and MWJ over the years, but I seriously doubt those people would give as much away as they have both just done.
— Neil Alcock (@ndalcock) August 12, 2024
Fair play to both of them for caring about the club more than money! #NCFChttps://t.co/VZ6fppcRDD
Thank you Delia and Micheal 🙌. Their share conversion effectively means £59m of debt wiped out from Norwich city. They're going out doing what they've always done, putting club before pocket! #NCFC
— Jonny Bottomley (@jonny_bottomley) August 12, 2024
This doesn’t mean we suddenly spend loads btw Norwich fans.. so calm yourselves down.
— DRG (@DRG__Tweets) August 12, 2024
It should mean we can invest the money we make on players back into the squad though.
Mega exciting news but please don’t go thinking we will become a club that spends spends,spends #NCFC
I want to thank Delia for all her hard work over the years! Yes we’re no longer financially competitive because of the state of modern football, but she’s saved us as a club and we owe her a lot!
— zekey (@knockemdownes) August 12, 2024
It’s rare to have an owner who loves a club as much as her #NCFC
Thanks Delia 💛
Wow. Safe to say no one saw this news coming today. We all knew that Delia & MWJ would step away eventually, but I genuinely didn’t think it would be this soon after the Attanasio’s started investing in the club… 😮 #ncfc https://t.co/ID3tVkmK0I
— The Norfolk Sonic 💛💚 (@Ginger_Canary) August 12, 2024
Delia and Michael are #NCFC all the way through.
— Tom Beeston (@TraXX520) August 12, 2024
What amazing custodians we have had for our club.
They may not have always been popular and may have held on a bit too long but given the send off players get for their testimonials etc surely we need to blow the roof off for these two. We will never see their like again. #ncfc
— Hoolahan is Magic (@HelloNeyul) August 12, 2024
Delia looked at the last week and really said: #ncfc pic.twitter.com/gy4DJ05A7v
— Adam Brandon (@AdamBrandon84) August 12, 2024
Brilliant news all round. D&M have been great for the club but have reached as far as they can. Football moves on and they unfortunately haven’t. By not taking any money their legacy should remain at #NCFC Little late IMO, but better late than never as the saying goes https://t.co/2BtLGvrhLN
— Cushy (@c11shy) August 12, 2024
I don’t know a #ncfc without Delia and Michael. They’ve saved the club from the brink on more than one occasion, have had to put up with endless abuse throughout their ownership and their lasting gesture is to not take a penny out of the club. Model owners. Forever grateful.
— Matthew Rushbrooke 🇩🇰 (@mattrushbrooke) August 12, 2024
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