Canaries turn to deal-man Harris

Michael Wynn-Jones and Delia Smith have ploughed at least �11m into City

Norwich City have turned to one of football's top deal brokers in a bid to find fresh investment for the club.

Former Football League chief Keith Harris has been asked to add the Canaries to his list of clients.

Harris was responsible for setting up the takeovers at Chelsea and Aston Villa, and is currently seeking similar investors for Newcastle and Everton.

The news was confirmed at City's Annual General Meeting as it was also revealed that Peter Cullum has withdrawn.

Norwich City chief executive Neil Doncaster told BBC Radio Norfolk:

"Keith Harris of Seymour-Pierce has been appointed by Delia [Smith] and Michael [Wynn-Jones] to try and find new investment.

"He's someone who has had a large hand in takeover deals within football, clearly he is the market leader in terms of bringing new investment into football clubs," he said.

Doncaster also confirmed that Harris has already been working on finding investors for Norwich while working on deals for Premier League clubs Newcastle and Everton.

For some time now Keith and another firm have been working on trying to find new investment to bring into Norwich City

Norwich chief executive Neil Doncaster

"It's certainly been more than a few weeks, it's become clear that Peter Cullum appears to have no interest in making an offer for Delia and Michael's shareholding.

"So for some time now Keith and another firm have been working on trying to find new investment to bring into Norwich City."

Kent-based insurance billionaire and Norwich fan Cullum was reported to have been interested in taking over at City earlier in the year.

Smith told shareholders on Tuesday that Cullum had written to her confirming that he would not be following up his enquiries.

Doncaster said that the period when Cullum's interest became public was a tough time for the TV chef.

"We saw all the speculation in the press, the figures being bandied about, and the people wanting to put money into the club, she wanted to come out and tell everyone that she hadn't received any offer.

"She felt that might prejudice the possibility of money coming in, hence it's only now that she's been able to come out on the record and set out the facts," he said.