Relief for fans as stadium revamp is paused

Emma Grant was one of the Norwich City fans who would have been moved from the River End lower tier at Carrow Road, which can be seen behind her

Norwich City fans are welcoming the news that controversial plans for their team's stadium have been postponed.

Club majority shareholder Mark Attanasio announced the proposed changes at Carrow Road - which would have involved moving 3,000 season ticket holders to new seats - had been paused.

Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk while on a visit from the US, Attanasio said the management committee would take a "step back" from the project following negative feedback.

Emma Grant, one of the fans who called in to the special edition of Canary Call, told Attanasio: "I am really pleased that the pause button has been pressed to have a proper chance to think about how you engage with the fans."

Some Norwich supporters were not convinced by the plans for a fan zone behind the Barclay Stand

The Canaries submitted plans to Norwich City Council earlier this month to alter parts of the stadium with a long-term view to rebuilding the City Stand, which would have involved the creation of a fan zone behind the Barclay Stand.

It would have seen fans who sit in the lower tier of the River End moved to make way for away supporters, as well as some in the South Stand.

Bridget James, a fan of the club, shared her concerns over the redevelopment on Canary Call

Norwich supporter Bridget James, from Swaffham, said: "The only plans communicated to us fans involve uprooting 3,000 of us in favour of corporate comfort."

The "unwanted redevelopment proposals" would not have an impact on the "state of affairs on the pitch", said Ms James.

The club is languishing second-from-bottom in the Championship table.

Attanasio said in response to James's comments on Canary Call : "We are going to postpone it and have an informed session with our supporters that we probably should have had before this."

A club statement published following the Canary Call special added: "We have taken the decision to postpone the work to allow us, and management, time to consider feedback and optimise the plans."

Ms Grant, who watches games in the River End lower tier, said one of her "biggest concerns" was how the redevelopment "was being handled and the lack of engagement in particular with the fans".

She said: "It is positive to hear that there potentially is [an] opportunity to look at this."

Attanasio said fans who would have been affected by the plans would be in the same seats for the next year.

Canaries fan Jack Reeve, left, gave his views to BBC Radio Norfolk's Rob Butler

Jack Reeve, from the Talk Norwich City fan channel, said: "It is telling that Mark felt he needed to come over and speak."

He welcomed the pause on the plans but said he was still concerned over what he felt was "a lot of disjointed thinking".

"We need joined up thinking and leadership and hopefully last night was one way to kick this off."

Following the update, supporters group the Canaries Trust, in a brief statement, said: "We welcome the club's statement. This is a great example of fan groups and the wider fanbase working together."