Or… what many Norwich City fans felt when the noisy neighbours in Ipswich revealed earlier this month that head coach Kieran McKenna was leaving, just 39 days after earning promotion to the Premier League.
When the dust settled, the reality bit again – Town are still a Premier League team and Norwich aren’t.
But is there a silver lining after the news that former Norwich City player Gary O’Neil is top of the list to replace McKenna?
If he does take over – as seems likely – he would join a small and not very highly distinguished group of former Norwich players to be permanently appointed Ipswich boss. Mick O’Brien, Joe Royle and Paul Cook are the others.
Paul Lambert is the only man to have managed both Norwich and Ipswich – and again, the latter to no great success, which often led to him being referred to as Agent Lambert.
Time to take a look at the cross-border links…
Mick O’Brien
The Irish defender broke the mould long ago, having made 64 appearances for Norwich between 1929 and 1931, scoring five goals. After retiring he managed QPR, was assistant manager at Brentford, and, in 1936, took charge at Ipswich, becoming their first professional manager. In 1936-37 season they finished Southern League champions.
Joe Royle
Joe Royle receives the player of the season trophy in 1981 (Image: Newsquest Library)
The former England striker found fame at Everton and Manchester City and ended his playing career at Carrow Road, with 42 appearances and nine goals between 1980 and 1982. Was City’s player of the year in 1981, but a knee injury forced his retirement at the age of 33 the following year. In December 2002, he was voted into the club’s hall of fame – just two months after being named Ipswich manager, replacing George Burley. Town went into administration, but Royle led them to the play-offs, in 2004 and 2005, losing both times to West Ham in the semi-finals. He left Portman Road at the end of the 2005-06 season.
Paul Cook
Familiar Scouse voice of football, Cook played half a dozen games for the Canaries in 1988–1989 – probably the one failure of his full-time postings as a player. Appointed Town manager in March 2021, but after a major summer overhaul of the playing squad he was sacked in December that year with Town 11th in League One, the second-shortest serving manager in the club’s history.
Paul Cook and Daniel Farke (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
He replaced the aforementioned Agent Lambert, which segues into a quick look at some other derby connections…
Agent Lambert
Paul Lambert in the Carrow Road naughty seat after being sent off in the derby in early 2019 (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
Led Norwich to successive promotions from League One to the Premier League, but after surviving a season he quit and joined Aston Villa. Acrimonious exit? Not half. Returned as Ipswich boss in February 2019 when he was sent to the stands after instigating (he later claimed) a touchline scrap.
Marcelino Nunez
Anyone who wants to know how deep the divide is, just Google ‘Nunez Norwich Ipswich’. Left Carrow Road for Portman Road last season – it went down like a lead balloon, not helped by the Chilean (and Town) milking it for all it was worth. Then he came back and kicked lumps out of everything yellow…
Bryan Hamilton
Bryan Hamilton had a tough time as Norwich boss (Image: Newsquest Library)
Town player of some note, but he couldn’t win over Norwich fans when he took over from Bruce Rioch in March 2000 – by the autumn he had gone.
Bryan Klug
Bryan Klug – no longer a Blue (Image: Newquest)
One who came in the other direction. Joined City’s academy as head of coach development last autumn. Started his playing career at Town, but never made a first team appearance. Went back as a youth team coach in 1987 and had four spells as caretaker manager.
Honourable mentions
Players who have worn the colours of both teams include Andy Marshall, Tom Adeyemi, Keith Bertschin, John Deehan, Louie Donowa, Ben Godfrey, Alan Lee, Trevor Putney, Kevin Lisbie, Jordan Rhodes, Brandon Williams, Clive Woods.