Bryan Gunn appointed - how the day unfolded

Manic, manic days. This week has been so busy from the moment my time in the snooker hall was rudely interrupted by Glenn Roeder’s sacking.

And yesterday, all of those events came to their natural conclusion:

7.40am My alarm goes off, followed four minutes later by a phone call from sports editor Richard. Press conference at Carrow Road just after 9am, so I’m needed – no lie in…

In the office, the morning’s EDP has led with Alan Curbishley closing in on the job – could he be the man to be unveiled? Apparently the City press team had hoped to give a steer to the morning paper last night, on who was to be announced, but it simply wasn’t possible.

However, the Evening News – having already put its 8.40am deadline back an hour – does get word of exactly who will be walking out in front of the media in less than an hour’s time. Most in the office question the wisdom of the appointment, although I’m not one of them.

9.15am Having driven the 10 minute walk to Carrow Road in an icy Astra (to save Pete walking all that way with a tripod, honest) everyone in the media room seems in the dark over who the lucky man is. Chris Lakey just makes it after being stuck in traffic. It was his “day off” after all.

Bryan Gunn, Roger Munby, John Deehan and Michael Foulger make their announcement before we all head into the stadium to do one-to-ones with the respective parties, including Neil Doncaster.

It is bitterly cold, and I wonder whether The Gunn Club will be renamed.

Back in the office by 11am, I get on with transcribing my interviews with Gunny and Doncaster, as well as writing a piece for the EDP website on the morning’s big news.

I also get hold of Mike Walker in Cyprus, for him to speak about his former goalkeeper. Safe pair of hands was the steer from Lakers, but in the end Walker seems a little miffed Gunny is now in charge for the rest of the season.

3pm Back to Carrow Road to have a chat with Jamie Cureton. Pete was filming again and after he proclaimed “I’m not walking!” we took the car. He’s a good one to interview Jamie, but I think he was looking forward to getting his last duty of the day out of the way as soon as possible – which was fair enough.

He was still friendly and gave some interesting quotes, leaving us to head back to Archant Towers from Carrow Road for surely the last time of a busy day.

The appointment of Ian Crook, John Deehan and Bryan Gunn gets discussed at most breaks during the day. I tend to be an optimist and put forward my belief the team should keep City up. But the thing with football is it’s almost impossible to predict.

It doesn’t really matter what we think at the moment – it is Tuesday night that everything starts to matter.

4pm Back in the office, it is a case of finishing my stories and looking at what is needed over the coming days. I’ve been trying to get a word with Sir Alex Ferguson all day – but I’m told that will be impossible to follow through.

7.10pm Out of the office and start my journey home, speaking to a couple of friends about the day’s twists and turns. I think everyone wants this team to work – so start crossing those fingers.

posted on 22 January 2009 13:09 byMichael Bailey - Sportsdesk

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