Former City manager Bryan Gunn has told Sky Sports that his sacking as Norwich City manager still leaves a bitter taste.Gunn was a guest on the Soccer Extra show, and was asked to describe the series of events that lead to his sacking 24 hours before the game at St James’ Park.

‘They had a board meeting on the Thursday and then on the Friday David McNally came down to Exeter,’ Gunn explained.

‘We’d named the team in the morning, we went through our set plays, and then at three o’clock in the afternoon I got told that my services were no longer required.’

The irony that the new man in the Carrow Road hot-seat was sat in opposition dug-out in the Colchester game has not been lost on many, and Gunn believes his successor can do a good job - but still he believes he could have turned things around:

‘Paul’s a good manager and I’m sure he’ll do very well there. He’s got his own style and he’ll do it his way, just like I was trying to do it my way.

‘I still feel that I could have done a good job there with the squad, with the coaching staff that we had but that’s not to be any more.’

There was always a risk that the managerial dream could turn sour for the former Sheriff of Norwich once he had stepped up to the plate to replace Glenn Roeder, but the man who made over 400 appearances for club admitted he was shocked at just how quickly things went south.

‘I didn’t expect it to happen so soon,’ he added. ‘I felt I’d been given the backing from the board and the coaching staff I’d brought in - Ian Butterworth, Ian Crook and John Deehan as chief scout - had that Norwich connection and we were the right people for the job, and the fact that I was backed throughout the summer in terms of the signings that we made - some quality signings as well who will do well for the football club - leaves a little bitter taste in the mouth.’

You certainly can’t blame him for harbouring some ill-will towards his now former employers, so has the whole episode damaged his relationship with the club?

‘I hope not. We’re still in discussions with the club about the settlement terms. I’ve had some good advice from the League Manager’s Association as well as it is something new to me.

‘They are good people and I am lead to believe that I will always be welcome back at the club.

‘It’s two weeks on now, still a little bit of a bitter taste in the mouth, but the golf handicap is getting better and I’ve still got a bit of charity work to do in Norwich with the Leukaemia appeal - and my garden’s got a few weeds in it as well.’

Article by Vital footaball

Norwich boss Paul Lambert heaped praise on Michael Nelson after the defender made a goalscoring and winning return to his former club Hartlepool.

Following six years at Victoria Park, Nelson moved to Carrow Road this summer on a free transfer, and on a quick return to his old club in a Norwich shirt he scored a spectacular opener and secured a shut-out at the other end in a straightforward 2-0 win.

“It was Nelson’s first game since the first day of the season and he was great, I thought he had a great game,” said Lambert.

“It’s brilliant for him to come back to his old stomping ground and do so well and to score like he did.

“But his general defensive display out there was excellent, which is why he is there and his goal was a bonus - and some bonus at that.”

HARTLEPOOL United paid the price for a collective off-day, as former defender Micky Nelson haunted his former club.

After exiting Victoria Park this summer for Norwich City, Nelson put his new side in front with a spectacular overhead kick in the first-half.

And he was rarely troubled all day as his side eased to victory.

It was only Nelson’s second appearance of the season. After making his debut in the opening day 7-1 humbling he has been forced to look on from the sidelines.

But he won’t have many more comfortable afternoons than this.

And the result means that Pool have now lost four games in front of their own fans this season.

“It was a poor game from start to finish,” said Turner.

“Both sides struggled to pass and play positive football.

“They took advantage of a mistake for Nelson to score and the second came from our own set piece.

“Everything that was good on Tuesday was poor today. Our back four and keeper kept up their standards, but the midfield and forwards didn’t.

“The two best players on the park were Grant Holt and Stephen Hughes. We couldn’t handle them.

“Norwich City took their chances well and will finish in the top six this season.”
Pools’ passing was out of sorts from the off, as they gifted possession to the visitors in the early stages.

It set the tone for a flat afternoon from Turner’s charges.

The opening goal came when Paul McVeigh peeled off to take possession from a short free-kick.

He worked into the penalty area and fed Jamie Cureton.

Keeper Scott Flinders saved his shot, and the home fans must have thought the chance was gone when the ball fell to Nelson with his back to goal.

But he took off to spectacularly volley into the net, in front of the Town End fans who used to laud him.

Pools only chance came when goalkeeper Fraser Forster, who Norwich signed on loan from Newcastle on Friday, pushed out an Antony Sweeney shot.

The ball fell into the path of James Brown, but the substitute turned and could only fire into the crowd.

That aside, it was a quiet day for Forster, who played at Victoria Park only two weeks ago for Bristol Rovers.

But Pool then went two down. From a Ritchie Jones corner, defender Jens Berthel Askou powerfully headed away to set up a classic counter attack.

Three passes later and the outstanding Stephen Hughes was on hand to sweep the ball into the net from 16 yards.

“We have had a hard month, a hard start to the season, but we move on from it,” said Turner.

“Everything that went wrong in terms of selections and decisions went wrong today.

“Our bench is looking a lot stronger and we prepare for Oldham on Friday straight away.

“We take the plaudits from how we played against Burnley last week and we take the downside from this performance as well.

“Now it’s about how we react on the training ground.

“We have honest lads here who are disappointed and they will pick up.”