Norwich City: Ben Knapper opens up on Abu Kamara and Jon Rowe transfer exits | OneFootball

The sporting director has opened up on the summer sales of Abu Kamara and Jon Rowe last year

Norwich City sporting director Ben Knapper has opened up on the exits of Jonathan Rowe and Abu Kamara last summer.

The pair were both sold after impressive seasons, with Rowe breaking into the Canaries’ first team squad under David Wagner.

The winger contributed 12 goals and two assists from 32 appearances in the Championship before departing for Marseille.

Meanwhile, Kamara was instrumental to Portsmouth gaining promotion from League One last year while on loan at the club, and was subsequently sold to Hull City upon his return to Carrow Road.

Ben Knapper opens up on duo’s Norwich City exit

Knapper has criticised both Kamara and Rowe’s conduct in the lead up to their Norwich departures, with the former handing in a transfer request and the latter withdrawing from the matchday squad just hours before their season-opener against Oxford United.

However, the recruitment chief has admitted that he holds no grudges against each player, suggesting they deserve to be given some grace due to their inexperience in these situations.

"There are things that each of them did that hopefully they've reflected on and think maybe they could have handled a bit differently," said Knapper, via Pink Un.

"But at the same time, they are young players and were in difficult situations for the first time.

“We also have to understand that context and afford a little bit of grace.

"There are certainly no hard feelings.

“As a club, I'm pleased with how we handled them. I think we reacted well.

“We got good outcomes in both of them. Sometimes, that's what it is about.

"Yes, we'd have loved to still have them here and work with them.

“But you have to accept that sometimes it's not possible, and then it's about how we get the best outcome.

"From our perspective, we did everything well.

“I think that there are things they could have done better, but they're young players, and that's all part of their learning and development.”

Norwich are currently 10th in the Championship table as they pursue promotion to the Premier League, with just four points separating them from the top six.

Up next for Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side is a big clash away to sixth place Blackburn Rovers on 1 March.

Norwich will want to avoid any ugly transfer sagas this summer

Norwich ultimately sold both Kamara and Rowe last summer after everything that surrounded their exits.

These deals have worked out for the Canaries, with either player not particularly pulling up trees elsewhere.

But the club should look to avoid any further issues behind the scenes with any approaches that may come for any of their players.

This is something Knapper is still getting to grips with, but you would hope that after his first 12 months in the role of sporting director that he now has a better handle of how the club handles players who are garnering attention in the market.