Norwich City have announced that successful Norfolk business couple Andrew and Sharon Turner are joining the Club's Board of Directors. The couple are owners and directors of rapidly-expanding personal finance giants Central Trust PLC, based in Norwich, and join the City Board with immediate effect.

Norwich City have announced that successful Norfolk business couple Andrew and Sharon Turner are joining the Club's Board of Directors.

The couple are owners and directors of rapidly-expanding personal finance giants Central Trust PLC, based in Norwich, and join the City Board with immediate effect.

Meanwhile long-standing Director and Vice-Chairman Barry Skipper is standing down after more than 10 years on the Board.

Lifelong City fans, Mr and Mrs Turner have acquired Barry's 5,000 shares at the price he purchased them for and loaned the Club a figure in the region of £2m interest-free, money which ensures City do not have to sell any players this summer.

Mr Turner, 48, told the club's official website: "We are delighted and honoured to join the Board of Norwich City Football Club and very much look forward to working with the other Directors in driving the Club back to the Premiership."

Mrs Turner, 49, added: "We are excited by the challenge and can't wait to get to work with the Directors and executives."

The Club's joint majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones said they were pleased to welcome the Turners on to the Board as the Club looks to move forward into a new era with First Team Manager Peter Grant.

Delia commented: "We have always said we would welcome new finance coming into the Club and new Directors on the Board if they shared our values and passion for Norwich City.

"In Andrew and Sharon we have two of Norfolk's most dynamic and forward-thinking business people who are also fans and who are very ambitious for the Football Club and passionately want it to develop and succeed.

"After the AGM many people have asked if we were actively seeking positive new investment into the Club and today provides an answer to that question.

"The Board now has the benefit of two fresh voices with bags of enthusiasm, business experience and loads of ideas and passion to help us move forward and I think it's a very exciting time for all of us who care about this great Club."

Chairman Roger Munby explained that in addition to the benefit of their business acumen, the Turner's loan of £2m was crucial in helping the Club to cope with the absence of Premiership parachute payments.

"The Board was faced with a £2m cash shortfall next season which would have had to have been financed through the sale of players. This is now no longer the case and the Manager can enter the summer transfer window with a lot more strength and confidence as a result."

"We are all very happy about this development and the prospect of working with Andrew and Sharon to advance the Canary cause is a tremendously exciting one."

Andrew Turner launched Central Trust PLC, which offers loans and mortgages to the public, in 1987 in a small office in central London.

It is now one of the country's fastest-growing firms and has won several national business awards.

Central Trust currently employs 300 people at its headquarters in Norwich and has a national workforce of 650.

Delia and Michael on behalf of the Board paid tribute to Barry Skipper, who today stands down as Vice-Chairman after more than ten years as a Director and becomes a Life Vice-President of the Club.

Michael said: "Barry has made a huge contribution to this Football Club and was a big part in the efforts of the Board to save the Club from the brink of financial ruin.

"He played his full part in the rejuvenation of the Club culminating in our promotion to the Premiership and the Board wants to place on record its sincere and lasting gratitude to Barry for his robust contribution to the Club over the years."

Barry Skipper commented: "It has been a huge privilege to have served for over 10 years the Club I have supported all my life.

"I am currently the oldest member of the Board and consequently not far short of the time when the Constitution of the Club requires me to retire anyway. I am very pleased about the arrival of Andrew and Sharon, therefore this seems an appropriate moment for me to stand down.I am honoured that the Board have invited me to retain an association with the Club as a Life Vice President."