CITY legend Bryan Gunn was today getting his gloves out of storage once again as boss Glenn Roeder shed more light on the surprise departure of goalkeeping coach Stuart Murdoch.

Former MK Dons boss Murdoch was unveiled at Colney only on Monday. But after spending just four days in his post, he announced last night that he could not continue due to "family reasons".

The sudden u-turn once again leaves boss Glenn Roeder hunting for a new specialist to train the likes of David Marshall, Matthew Gilks and Steven Arnold following the departure of long-standing goalkeeping coach Jim Hollman earlier this month.

Gunn will again take charge of duties for the time being, and will be back on the Carrow Road pitch on Saturday to warm-up Marshall ahead of City's big Championship match with Leicester City.

Roeder was clearly disappointed to lose Murdoch so quickly, but paid tribute to his former Watford number two for his honesty in making a decision before any employment contract had actually been finalised.

"Although Stuart thought it would work out with his family down in Brighton, after the few days he spent with us he realised it probably wasn't going to," said Roeder. "It just shows you the honesty of the man to call yesterday and tell me.

"It would have been easy for him to carry on for a month and keep it to himself - the concerns of his wife where they've got a business in Brighton - and tell me a month down the road. And he's come clean straight away and it proved he's a very straight and honest man. I worked with him at Watford and that's what Stuart is.

"He really enjoyed the few days he spent with us and got a taste for it again. When he went home on Wednesday and discussed it with his wife and other family members the discussion was always leading to him not taking the offer up which we'd made him. So at least he's told us before we got into a situation where it was signed, sealed and delivered."

As for his replacement, Roeder confirmed the search had already begun. However, he believed the position was in safe hands for the time being.

"I'm not going to be rushed. Gunny has got an awful lot of experience until I find my own goalkeeping coach which I will be working on ASAP."

There has been another new face in the goalkeeping department in recent weeks at Colney in the form of American international Matt Pickens.

The 25-year-old Chicago Fire stopper has been training with the Canaries, with Roeder running the rule over the MLS star. The City manager said he had not specifically been in the market for a new goalkeeper, but was happy to take a look at Pickens when offered the chance by his agent.

"The fact of the matter is that Matt is a very good goalkeeper," he said. "He's just got into the American squad. Just been drafted. A typical American, a great guy. He's training with us today, whether he's with us next week or not I'm not sure.

"There are other clubs waiting in the wings to take him. But I'd be pretty certain from what I've seen, without seeing him in a game, that he could handle Championship football."

So would Roeder be taking a punt?