Norwich City can make more money by going up

Norwich City chairman Alan Bowkett insists that there was never any intention of cashing in on any of their star assets in the January window.

Promotion-chasing Norwich won praise from their fans at the club's AGM on Tuesday night for not selling the likes of Wes Hoolahan and Grant Holt.

But Bowkett admits that a return to the Championship is their only concern.

"It doesn't make sense to sell," he said. "By going up we stand a chance of getting £3.7m extra revenue."

After the club disclosed debts of almost £23m in January, there was concern that the Canaries' top players might have to be offloaded.

But chief executive David McNally insisted: "We won't be soft. There's a difference between being nice and a pushover."

People used to come in and pinch our manager and players. Now we're saying they're staying here

Kathy Blake, Norwich Independent Supporters Association

The club have also again confirmed that they have no plans to sell Carrow Road, but are looking for new investors.

"If you look what's happening at other football clubs, everyone is putting their hands up and saying things aren't working," added Bowkett. "You cannot rely on the benefactor model going forward.

"We have been too nice for too long," said Kathy Blake, from the Norwich City Independent Supporters Association. "People used to come in and pinch our manager and players.

"Now we're saying they're staying here and that's great from a fan's perspective."

The Canaries currently sit at the top of League One, three points clear of nearest rivals Leeds United and, more crucially, seven ahead of the play-off pack.

Since starting the season with that embarrassing 7-1 home defeat to Colchester United, which triggered the sacking of Bryan Gunn, they have lost just twice in 26 league games.