Joint majority shareholder Delia Smith has denied suggestions that the decision to sack Nigel Worthington as Norwich City manager was delayed by their close personal relationship.

The Northern Irishman was dismissed on Sunday following the Canaries' 4-1 capitulation at the hands of Burnley, after a concerted campaign by sections of the City support seeking his removal.

Chants of "Worthy out" have been heard at Carrow Road on a regular basis since the tail-end of last season, when an expected promotion push failed miserably to materialise.

A good start to this campaign, which saw the team rise as high as second in the Coca-Cola Championship table, put a temporary end to that demand, but a league run of one draw and four defeats - including Saturday's humiliation and an equally poor showing at Plymouth Argyle the week before - prompted the board to make the change.

Smith described Sunday as an "emotional" time, but the celebrity chef admitted she and Worthington had never been good friends and that the dismissal was no more traumatic than it usually is for someone in her position.

"I think it is always difficult," she said.

"I don't think there is any other way it can be achieved without it being difficult.

"Every manager we have had here, we have had a relationship with. We feel it (the board's partnership with Worthington) worked as a team and that's the only way forward for a club which does not have great resources.

"We were not close friends, but the hand of friendship was certainly extended to him, as it was with other managers. It was emotional for all of us."

Worthington declared his intention to battle on immediately after the Clarets defeat, but the matter was soon taken out of his hands and his sacking was confirmed a couple of hours after the final whistle.