'Tough few days' for Canaries chairman Ed Balls - but he's still backing Alex Neil

Ed Balls with majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones at Norwich City's match against Stoke. Credit: PA Wire.

Norwich City chairman Ed Balls said it been a tough few days for the club as he thanked former chief executive David McNally - and gave the Canaries' young boss his backing.

Former shadow chancellor Mr Balls, a life-long fan of Norwich, was speaking in an interview on the club's website about Mr McNally's resignation at the weekend.

It followed defeat to Manchester United at Carrow Road. The chairman said the board had received the resignation on Saturday evening and spent Sunday discussing whether to accept it.

Paying tribute to the work of Mr McNally over the last seven years, the former Labour MP also gave Canaries manager Alex Neil a vote of confidence despite the club's precarious position near the bottom of the table.

Ed Balls with David McNally after being named chairman at the end of 2015. Credit: PA Wire.

Steve Stone, the club's finance director, has been brought in as interim chief executive while the board looks for a permanent replacement.

Mr Balls said Norwich City was taking "immediate action" to make sure Alex Neil had the support he needed to deal with the end of the season and the summer transfer window.

But he said the immediate focus was the Canaries' remaining matches - including Watford tomorrow.

To watch Ed Balls' full interview, click below.