Norwich City legend Bryan Gunn is to leave Norfolk to return to football and start a new life in the north of England.

The former Canaries goalkeeper and manager said he and his family would always have a strong emotional attachment to the Norwich and Norfolk but the move presented a fantastic opportunity for his family.

Mr Gunn is leaving current employer OneStream to join a top sports agency and the new job means he will move from Norfolk to Cheshire.

Today Mr Gunn said it was decision made by all his family, but that Norfolk and Norwich would 'always be with them', particularly as it is the last resting place of his two-year-old daughter Francesca, who was buried in Framingham Pigot when she died from leukaemia in 1992.

He said: 'We're very sad in many ways to be leaving. Obviously we will have a major emotional ties here with Francesca buried in Framingham Pigot.

'But we will be back on many occasions. We have lots of friends and people we have grown to love over the years so our relationship with Norfolk will still be there.

'It's departure from Norfolk, but at the same time Norfolk will always be with us.'

The former Scotland international player has resigned from his position as director of new business at OneStream, the Norfolk-based business communication and IT provider, and at the start of June will become director of talent recuitment at a top sports agency.

He said: 'It was a very tough decision indeed but football is still very much in my blood.'

He added: 'Anyone who knows me knows that I'm very passionate about football and this is a good opportunity to get back into the sporting arena.

'For Susan it is also an opportunity to extend her art work to Manchester, where she has exhibited in the past.

'Our daughter Melissa is also going to Manchester University. Angus, as a 15-year-old, will hopefully come and we'll find a good school where he can finish off his GCSEs and a football club which can further help develop his skills.'

Mr Gunn said there was an 'opportunity' for Angus, who is currently on the books as a goalkeeper with Norwich City Football Club and who has played for England's under-16s, to move to another club which could help him to fulfil his potential.

The move will also bring them closer to Mrs Gunn's family in Bolton.

Mr Gunn joined OneStream following his sacking as manager of Norwich City in 2009, following the club's 7-1 home defeat at the hands of Paul Lambert's Colchester United.

When asked if this had taken the shine off his association with the club and county, Mr Gunn said: 'Not at all. I was at a number of games last season. Norwich City has done fantastically well and congratulations to everyone involved at the club, particularly Michael Foulger and Delia Smith, who have put a lot of money in.'

He added: 'I have great memories of my time at Norwich City as a player, as a representative behind the scene and as manager.'

In his new role Mr Gunn will be responsible for the recruitment of the best young football players in the country.