Ian Culverhouse.

Norwich City’s Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa join Paul Lambert at Aston Villa

David Cuffley Thursday, July 5, 2012
11:25 AM

Norwich City have confirmed that Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa, part of former boss Paul Lambert’s management team for the past three years, have left the club by mutual consent, with immediate effect.

Culverhouse and Karsa have teamed up with Lambert at new club Aston Villa in their respective roles as assistant manager and head of football operations.

”It’s great for them to be here at the club and I’m delighted they have joined me,” Lambert said.

”They have been with me for the past six years which is a long time and we’ve built up an understanding and a trust. I trust them and they have been great for me.

”We have always bounced well off each other and we’re all looking forward to the job at hand here at Villa.”

The duo joined the Canaries from Colchester United when Lambert took charge at Carrow Road in August 2009.

Culverhouse, who made 369 appearances for the club from 1985 to 1994, was assistant manager under Lambert, while Karsa was head of football operations, assisting with administrative and player liaison duties at Colney.

City chief executive David McNally told the club’s official website: “We’d certainly like to place on record our sincere gratitude and appreciation of the work that Ian and Gary did with Paul to help lift us from the foot of League One to the Barclays Premier League.

”They’ve played a full part in a memorable and exciting era for the club and I’m sure all Norwich fans will join everybody at Carrow Road and Colney in wishing them all the best for the future.”

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28 comments

Much as I am saddened by the departure of Culverhouse and Karsa, perhaps in the long run it is for the best. I don't think Culverhouse would want to play second fiddle to someone like Chris Hughton; especially as he seemed to be the "manager" behind THE manager Paul Lambert!! Hughton will be used to his own team, whom he has brought with him, and now that Dave Watson has come on board it is looking very good for the future. I think we could well surprise everyone even more this season. Now wouldn't that be something!!! OTBC

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Canarygirl

Friday, July 6, 2012
Amen to your final sentiment, Swiss. TVM for MU info. It`s amazing what these supercharged alpha males can get away with. More neck than a giraffe.

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Mad Brewer

Friday, July 6, 2012
That's it Brewer, the only attraction in buying ManU shares is that they will increase in value. However, as the management have turned a profitable club into a mess, it is hard to see that the prospects are good with these muppets in charge. Overall, the club will have paid about 1 Billion for the Glazers take over as it has to pay their mortgage and all of the costs. Thank God that it was wasted and not invested in the squad! On the CullyKarsa, story; thanks and so long, let's hope that is the last we hear.

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Swiss Canary

Friday, July 6, 2012
@spanishcanary, it means helping Grant Holt with his Twitter account. It had to be closed at the end of June whern Gary's contract expired.

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Swiss Canary

Friday, July 6, 2012
Suspect you`re pretty close there, Norfolk`n`good. It`s strange that Culverhouse is happy with that relationship. Perhaps there`s a touch of Dr. Mesmer about his boss? Or perhaps Cully`s just afraid of `riling` him? I wonder if Calmer Karma Chris ever gets riled? I think, long term, NCFC are better off under his serene stewardship. Swiss, why would anyone WANT to buy MUFC shares on those terms? Are they just gambling on the share price increasing in the absence of dividends or significant voting power? I ask `cos it`s beyond my ken but I find it interesting. Those Glaziers are "Panes" in their own special way. ;-)

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Mad Brewer

Friday, July 6, 2012
" assisting with administrative and player liaison duties at Colney " What exactly does that mean? Gofher maybe

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spanishcanary

Friday, July 6, 2012
To be fair if I were Mr Hughton I wouldn't want them around.

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Lobbo

Friday, July 6, 2012
Mel Lacey - what makes you say that? Why cant these guys bring the same success to us as is they did for you? If he can get the best out of our players we will be in Europe within 3 seasons. We've been there and done it in recent years. They took Championship Standard players and made them play good attractive football. For me, this season is going to be difficult as its another new manager, and i will see a top 10 finish with a good cup run a success. Just find it hard to believe that the people who once loved PL et al are now questioning their ability? Strange.

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MonkeyNuts

Friday, July 6, 2012
The fact of the matter is that Lambert can achieve nothing without them. Culverhouse is the real achiever. However, I cannot see them achieving anything at Villa. Pride always comes before a fall...

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Mel Lacey

Friday, July 6, 2012
The "understanding" Paul mentions translates as " when I go back to Glasgow for two or three days in the week, Cully will get the team ready for the weekend";)

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Norfolk'n'good

Friday, July 6, 2012
Algarve and Kent - the delay was not about compensation but simply that Culverhouse's contract expired on 30 June, so I assume Karsa's did too. Someone posted info on this a while back. It means I'm also assuming the now unholy trio have all departed for nothing.

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Michael D

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Time for a rant. Those sons of bachelors the Glaziers, that bought ManU, are pulling yet another financial fast one that is once again d**k in glove with everyone's favourites - The Bankers. Having given the profitable club a £423M debt-burden to pay for their own takeover, the bankers that financed it have already been paid £500M in fees and repayments. Now the Glazier's financial mismanagement means they can't even pay for their own debts, they have re-registered it as a Cayman Is company and are trying to float it on the NYSE by selling share with 10x less voting rights than theirs and no dividends, i.e. you give us your cash to pay for our excesses and we are still in control and you get didley-squat. It is a bigger disgrace to English football than Hodgson's surrender in the Ukraine. I am as mad as hell and I can't take it anymore! How do the Mancs put up with it?

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Swiss Canary

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Sorry Rodders, I`ve had a lobotomy on the NHS this afternoon - just trying to fit in.. What does `petulant` mean? And what made you think the comment had anything to do with you? Are you an attention-seeker? Not a good idea. Stay under cover.

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Good luck at Villa where you will find that the pavements aren't made out of gold but in fact a nicely coloured tinfoil... Seriously though, Ar-chant, you keep harping on about Lambert, why stop there? Maybe we should be finding out what Mike Walker had for breakfast? Or whether John Bond uses head and shoulders?

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wisemanthree

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Brewer,you dont need my permission to use acronyms, For an intelligent man you do get a bit petulant. OTBC IHTHWT

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Rodders

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Yeh Cov, interesting piece of news on goal line technology, I'd hoped it might go a bit further and cover possible penalty calls.

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cutty

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Does this mean that the compensation package has been quietly agreed??

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Algarve Canary

Thursday, July 5, 2012
The sun is shinnng. Only 26 days to the first proper friendly at Carrow Road, and we can still field the starting line up that comfortably beat Aston (we are a bigger club) Villa in the last game of the season and drew with Arsenal in the one before last. Two good additions and a sound appointment as new manager. What is there to be unhappy about?

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Pondlife

Thursday, July 5, 2012
So...can we finally move on now?

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CovCanary

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Conspiracy theory number 27 and 28:. IC and GK leave just after Holt gets his third year. Oh andd MonkeyNuts: here at Norwich we acknowledge that Villa are bigger than us and we would say the same about Leeds. Forest, Derby, Blackburn, Bolton, Sheffield Wed, Sheffield Utd, Middlesbor, Wolves etc. Facts are (if only for 1112) bigger does not always mean better

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Pondlife

Thursday, July 5, 2012
We should thank these guys for all they have done for NCFC. However, I would hesitate to go as far as wishing them 'good luck', as I would prefer to see Villa relegated next season. Hopefully Cully may be around to take over management here one day. OTBC

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Dubai Canary

Thursday, July 5, 2012
I wish he`d cut the umbilical sooner, KA. All history now. Let`s get behind the new management team and look forward to more good football. OTBC (if I`m allowed to use an acronym). ;-)

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Well, that's a surprise!! I hope the delay was due to getting an acceptable level of compensation. Anyway, sincere thanks to Cully and Karsa for all they have done for us. Cully has been a great servant to the club and maybe one day he will be back to sit in the 'big chair'.

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Kent Anglian

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Did anyone really ever think they wouldn't join Lambert at Villa? I take it, after all the jostling, we won't be getting any compensation for them as well as Lambo?

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troublesome1

Thursday, July 5, 2012
I don't wish anyone the best who leaves NCFC when they were offered a job by City. Especially when its to help improve a team in opposition. Childish I know but hope they crash and burn at AV.

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goldie

Thursday, July 5, 2012
You cannot beat that trademark Lambo coda; "for me". Let`s hope this is the end of it and, apart from some compo, nothing else needs to happen. A graceless end to a brilliant regime.

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Yeah, well "bounce off" now Lambo. You've got your boys back. Thanks for your efforts but with all due respect we don't want to hear from you again. Archant please stop covering Lambert now? Thank you very glad !

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Timbo

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Well now we know. Again. let's move on, OTBC. Hopefully this is the end of it all, apart from all the tribunals, etc.

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Swiss Canary

Thursday, July 5, 2012