DELIA SMITH has stepped down as Norwich City director and will take up a new role at the club.
The TV chef agreed to hand over her majority stake to American consortium Norfolk Holdings in the summer.
Smith has not received a penny for passing on the reigns and gives up control to secure the “long-term financial security of the club”.
The 85-year-old and her husband Michael Wynn Jones will reportedly still own ten per cent of the Canaries.
And the duo will still attend games in their new role as “honorary life presidents”.
Smith has been on Norwich’s board for 28 years after buying the team she supports in November 1996.
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She was invited to invest in the club amid their financial struggles following relegation from the Premier League.
The cook pumped in £2million before becoming the majority shareholder a couple of years later.
Smith also revamped the catering at Carrow Road and famously tried to rally supporters in 2005 with a passionate half-time speech, saying: “Where are you? Where are you? Let’s be ‘avin’ you Come on.”
With her at the helm, the Norfolk-based side have been promoted to the Prem six times and relegated six times.
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But with Norwich’s debt thought to be around £59million, she has decided to step down from her role on the board.
The club released a statement that confirmed the news and said: “It’s not goodbye, it’s just thank you.”
Fans added: “They saved the club and were a couple of goldfish who were swimming with sharks in the Prem when, with the limited resources behind them, they had no right to be. Forever grateful.”
Another commented: “Thank you Delia and Michael for everything you have done for this great football club and this fine city. We have been extremely lucky to have such passionate, lovely and down to earth owners.”
Norfolk Holdings are led by businessman Mark Attanasio and they joined the board two years ago.
He is the owner of baseball team the Milwaukee Brewers and he co-founded the Californian investment firm Crescent Capital Group.
A general meeting was held at Carrow Road this week for shareholders to vote on Norfolk Holdings, with them expected to get the green light.
Norwich currently sit seventh in the Championship.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
