Listen: Norwich City fan behind David McNally resignation tweet describes his shock
Seventeen-year-old Norwich City Fan Robson Summers whose tweet to David McNally and his response set Twitter alight. Photo: Steve Adams - Credit: Steve Adams
It started with an unremarkable tweet, posted by a 17-year-old Canaries fan annoyed that his team had lost again.
But it became altogether more curious when the Twitter account of Norwich City chief executive David McNally replied to the teenager to say he had resigned.
What followed was more than four hours of confusion, as sports journalists put in calls with the club to establish whether the claim was genuine, and nobody sure whether it was deadpan humour or a surprise announcement. This was met by silence from Norwich City, until a second tweet from Mr McNally's account – shortly after 1am yesterday – to state that he had not resigned.
Mr McNally has not commented on the bizarre episode, but social media exploded into debate, with fans divided over whether they wished him to stay or go.
Robson Summers, a season-ticket holder in the lower Barclay stand, is the 17-year-old whose tweet to Mr McNally's account prompted the response.
A twitter exchange between Norwich City fan Robson Summers, 17, and the twitter account of the club's chief executive David McNally. - Credit: Archant
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He said it was 'just frustration' after the Canaries' 1-0 defeat to Manchester United that led to him sending the message, calling on Mr McNally to leave. To his surprise, his account responded at 8.35pm on Saturday – though this and subsequent posts have since been deleted.
Mr Summers, of George Borrow Road, Earlham, said he didn't think he would get a reply 'especially not with what was written. That started everything. People were retweeting it, it was quite funny. At first I didn't think it was being serious, but then there was no response until the following morning.
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'It's unprofessional, even if it was joking around by somebody.'
He added that he had received criticism from some fans, but took this in his stride, noting: 'They're entitled to their opinion, and that was mine.'
A twitter exchange between Norwich City fan Robson Summers, 17, and the twitter account of the club's chief executive David McNally. - Credit: Archant
Mr McNally had come in for strong criticism from many supporters on social media following Saturday's defeat, which pushed them closer to relegation.
Neither Mr McNally nor the club made any official announcement after the posts.
