Fox in controversial Norwich switch

COLCHESTER United have sold midfielder David Fox to bitter rivals Norwich City for an undisclosed fee.

The controversial switch sees the 26-year-old playmaker link back up with manager Paul Lambert, the man who signed him for the U’s on a free transfer from Blackpool last summer.

Fox – who has signed a two-year deal at Carrow Road – ironically made his Colchester debut in the 7-1 win at Norwich on the opening day of last season, scoring a free-kick in the 7-1 win.

Lambert soon departed for Norwich though and Fox quickly found himself not fitting into new manager Aidy Boothroyd’s direct and physical style of play. Having started the opening five League One matches of the season, he went on to start just 10 more league games.

Boothroyd himself has since left the U’s though and, with new boss John Ward promising ‘expressive’ football next season, it looked as if Fox would return to the fold.

However, U’s chairman Robbie Cowling – who is still involved in a bitter feud with the Canaries over their acquisition of Lambert nearly 10 months ago – says he could not turn up an opportunity to make profit on an unhappy player.

He said: “David came to us and explained that he and his family had never really settled in the area so we agreed that if another club came in for him, we would consider letting him go.

“We got him on a free contract 12 months ago and now Norwich have offered a fee for him. It is not productive to have unhappy players here at Colchester United and it was in ours and David’s best interests that he moved on.”

Reacting to his fourth signing of the summer, Norwich boss Lambert – whose side will are back in the Championship next season following their title-winning League One campaign – said: “I signed him at Colchester last year and he had a brilliant start to the season.

“He’s someone who will hopefully benefit the team with his wide range of passing and I’m delighted to be bringing him to Carrow Road.”