Delia Smith has stepped down as director at Norwich City after nearly thirty years, along with her husband Michael Wynn Jones. The couple purchased the club in 1996 and have been on the board for the past 28 years. Their majority stake has been handed over to American firm Norfolk Holdings, led by new owner Mark Attanasio, ensuring the club’s long-term future, despite Smith reportedly not receiving any payment for giving up her shares. Smith and Wynn Jones will now become honorary life presidents of the club as the new owners take on debts totaling around £59m.
During her time as a director, Smith was passionate about the success of Norwich City, investing an initial £2m to become the majority shareholder a couple of years later. Under her ownership, the Canaries have experienced numerous promotions and relegations, making them a typical Premier League/Championship yo-yo club. One of Smith’s most memorable moments came during a match against Manchester City in 2005 when she famously gave a passionate speech on the pitch at half-time, urging the fans to show more support for the team with her famous “Let’s be ‘avin you” call to action.
Businessman Mark Attanasio, who heads up Norfolk Holdings, has taken over the majority stake in Norwich City, bringing stability to the club’s financial future and allowing Smith and Wynn Jones to retire as directors. Attanasio, who also owns the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team and co-founded the investment firm Crescent Capital Group, joined the Norwich board two years ago and has now assumed control of the club. Norwich City currently sits seventh in the Championship, just two points outside the play-off places as they aim to secure another promotion to the Premier League under the new ownership.
The change in ownership at Norwich City marks the end of an era for Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones as they transition to the role of honorary life presidents. The club’s existing board expressed deep gratitude for the couple’s contributions during their long tenure as directors, acknowledging their dedication and passion for the club. With the new owners taking on the club’s debts and aiming for another promotion to the Premier League, the future looks promising for Norwich City as they position themselves for continued success under the leadership of Mark Attanasio and Norfolk Holdings. The departure of Smith and Wynn Jones may signal the end of one chapter, but it also marks the beginning of a new era for the Championship side.
