AS the board of Norwich City continue to sift through a long list of ‘high calibre’ candidates for the vacant Carrow Road hot seat, one Norfolk man believes the answer to their prayers lies close to home.
Richard Brown, 62, has been involved in Norfolk’s football community since he started playing as a school boy at Dowson First School in Mile Cross during the 1950s. He turned out for Anglian Combination sides Mann Egerton and St Andrews, as well as making a Sunday Cup final appearance at Carrow Road.
After a knee injury ended his playing days, Richard grabbed a spot in ex-Canary Bertie Holmes’ newly founded Jarrold football team before taking over the Rogers & Norton Business House League club’s managerial reigns in 1989.
He remains there to this day.
The reason for Richard revealing his footballing pedigree?
Because he believes he has what it takes to restore pride in the Norwich City dressing room; something Nigel Worthington lost and Peter Grant failed to gain.
“I’ve always played and loved the game,” said Richard, who contacted us at Vital Norwich to put forward his manifesto for change at Carrow Road.
“The first thing in any football club, regardless of level, is the manager has to earn respect. If he hasn’t got this then he is fighting a losing battle on and off the field. He has to install in the players that no one is bigger than the club.
“More and more games are lasting 95 minutes or more, and the fitness level in some of the players is not up to standard.”
Norwich have scored a pitiful seven goals in their 12 league games this season, and Richard thinks both players and supporters need to get rid their desire for pretty football.
“When are Norwich going to install in every player that twenty passes and no shot at goal will never win matches? I admit it looks pretty, but the end result is no goals and not even a shot on target.”
“Are there players who are playing in the wrong position? Could Otsemobor be a front man? Does Huckerby need a kick up the bum. I went to the Carling Cup tie at Manchester City and Norwich were terrific. I said to my friends on the way back Norwich wouldn’t play the same team against Sheffield Wednesday, and so it was.
“It takes courage and guts to leave out a star player such as Darren Huckerby, but sometimes this needs to happen for the benefit of the team.”
Norwich chief executive Neil Doncaster asked Richard for a CV following the City fan’s initial email.
However, Richard has since been turned down for the full-time position in a letter from Norwich’s club secretary Kevin Platt, which was mistakenly addressed to someone else.
That lead Richard to joke: “Maybe you could mention to Kevin Platt that if he wants Alex Ferguson, he’d better not write Dear Mr Wenger.”
It was Richard’s lack of current experience in the professional game at a high level which cost him an interview, and although he knew the likelihood of being pipped to the job by names such as Paul Jewell and Phil Parkinson was great, as a current season ticket holder he will always want what’s best for the club.
So as it won’t be Richard who wins the race, what are his views on the alternatives?
“There must be over 50 applicants for the job, possibly including one of Norwich’s own players. As for who else I would want to see, I’m still trying to make my mind up!”
Would you prefer Richard in charge of Jason Shackell and co, over Jim Duffy or Peter Reid? Do you think you could do the job? Tell us your thoughts and credentials, and we’ll let the Vital public decide…
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