In case anyone hasn't seen it.........

A maverick lawyer who previously failed in a bid to seize control at Carrow Road has cooked up fresh controversy after urging Delia Smith to let him save the cash-strapped Canaries.

Giovanni Di Stefano, whose client list of Saddam Hussein, Jonathan King, Ronnie Biggs and Gary Glitter has earned him the nickname The Devil's Advocate, used his website to issue an apparent come and get me plea to the current board at Carrow Road.

Beneath a report from the club's annual general meeting, in which majority shareholder Delia Smith told angry fans she would hand over the club to anyone “idiotic” enough to pump millions into it for nothing back, Mr Di Stefano, right, wrote: “I am still a shareholder in this club and while I have taken absolutely no part whatsoever for the past three years it does not, repeat not, mean to say that if the club were really in difficulties I would see it go 'down the drain' as such.

“If Ms Smith seeks fresh investment in the club, and as I am in any case a shareholder, she need only make contact with me and she may find considerable sympathy.”

His remarks come six years after Delia and other board members joined forces to block the Italian businessman from snapping up a significant portion of shares at Carrow Road.

That prompted one national newspaper to describe him as “surely the only man in the world to claim the personal friendship of Saddam Hussein and the personal enmity of Delia Smith.”

After he was foiled in Norwich, Mr Di Stefano turned his attentions to Dundee FC where he became a director at the same time as current Canaries caretaker boss Jim Duffy was manager.

Mr Di Stefano, who made his fortune from importing videotapes from Hong Kong, quit the Scottish club in 2004 but has since been linked with other football clubs including Northampton and Irish club Shelbourne.

In 1986 Mr Di Stefano was convicted of fraud and jailed, but he says this was quashed on the second appeal.

Mr Di Stefano, who owns just 10 ordinary shares in Norwich City - about 0.002pc of the shares available - told the Evening News today: “It seems to me that 'our' Delia has taken the club about as far as she is able - a little like Ken Bates did with Chelsea, and the time has probably come, subject to all the usual caveats, for some fresh blood to enter the Norwich City FC DNA database.

“I am happy to see Jim Duffy at NCFC and on Saturday did exchange a good luck message with him.

“I am of the view, as a shareholder, that he is the best man for the job.

“The club needs fresh faces, fresh investment and needs to concentrate on football.

“Delia has my number if she wishes to call me she may find a sympathetic shareholder well baked and ready to serve.”

A spokesman for Norwich City said the club did not want to comment on Mr Di Stefano's offer.

Posted By: Andyjzr, Oct 24, 17:46:01