Adam Drury has called on disgruntled Norwich City fans to wipe the slate clean for the new season. Last season's disappointing campaign was punctuated by some of the fiercest criticism of manager Nigel Worthington five-and-a-half-year reign, and some public criticism of some of his players.

By CHRIS LAKEY

Adam Drury has called on disgruntled Norwich City fans to wipe the slate clean for the new season.

Last season's disappointing campaign was punctuated by some of the fiercest criticism of manager Nigel Worthington five-and-a-half-year reign, and some public criticism of some of his players.

But Drury insists that the disappointment of last season must be put to the back of everyone's minds.

“It doesn't help us, but I understand why they did it,” said the City defender. “It's because we didn't do what we were supposed to do last year, so it's understandable.

“This year it is a fresh start and they have got to see from kick-off how we go from there. If it carries over from last season it is not going to help anybody because it is going to make players nervous and make everyone edgy, so hopefully, we can start afresh and go from there.

“Last year has gone, we can't look at that - we can perhaps learn from it, but it is not anything you want to dwell on.

“Obviously it didn't go well for anyone, but that's history now and we have to look forward to this season. We have pre-season now and it is a time when we can work things out. We have a new coach coming in who is going to bring new ideas to the set-up so it gives him a good chance to get to know the lads and the set-up and put his ideas into practice.”

It's going to be a big season for the 27-year-old and wife Helen, who are expecting their first child at the end of September.

“I'm getting as much rest in as I can now before the sleepless nights start,” laughed Drury.

As well as that personal milestone, there are likely to be some on the professional front, with Drury currently having started 198 league games for City - and 336 in a career that started at Peterborough in 1995.

They will mean little unless Drury helps City back into the top flight - but the Cambridge born defender knows it's another tough ask.

“There are a lot of big teams in this league now, you only have to look at the teams that came down, and they are spending money as well,” he said. “But I think the pressure is more on them. Teams like West Brom have kept a lot of their players and I don't think many of the teams have sold players off. But there are no easy months in this league, it is big teams week in and week out.”

Drury insists that a trip to Leeds is a good way to start the new season.

“It is a big game, but it is a good game to start with, to test ourselves against a side that is going to be up there,” he said. “It is one of those sort of games when people perhaps don't expect much, but if we had a not-so-good side there would be more pressure on us.

It is a good chance for us to go there and get a good result.”

Drury has been the subject of some speculation during the summer, with Watford manager Adie Boothroyd - a former City youth coach and a one-time Peterborough team-mate _ said to have been interested.

“I had heard one or two things but it is always the same - you hear rumours but you don't take any notice of them until anything happens,” he said. “Nothing has and I am fully focussed on Norwich City.”