Peter WalshIt was supposed to be a song that Canaries' fans could sing for years to come, but just a week after the Gary Doherty EP was released to the music-buying public the Norwich defender was released by his club.Peter Walsh

It was supposed to be a song that Canaries' fans could sing for years to come, but just a week after the Gary Doherty EP was released to the music-buying public the Norwich defender was released by his club.

Norwich four-piece We Can't Dance wanted to release the single in celebration of their favourite player and, with the help of City fans, make it a chart and stadium anthem.

But the band, who are all currently studying at Access to Music on King Street, Norwich, have suffered a double blow with the single, which was released on Monday failing to reach the Top 40 and the news that Doherty has been let go by City.

The popular central defender, who finished third in the club's player of the season contest, was a key member of the side that clinched the League One title in emphatic fashion, making 44 appearances and chipping in with seven goals to help City make a swift return to the Championship.

Ian Johnson, manager of the Norwich branch of Access to Music on King Street, said while he did not know exactly how many sales the single had received, it was certainly not enough to chart.

He said: 'We hoped to get the football club on side and get a bit more promotion. Our vague plan was if we could get it into the programme and get a small percentage of the fans to buy it then we might crack it, but we didn't get that and without it, it wasn't going to chart in the way we wanted.'

Mr Johnson said he and the band, which includes lead singer Harry Dawson, 19, Josie Steward, 16, Matthew Howells, 18, and Ashley Alsop, also 18, were disappointed, but hoped to continue promoting it in whatever way they could.

But as well as failing in their bid to make the Top 40 with their first single release, the band are also said to be 'disappointed' with the news that Doherty will not play another game as a Norwich City player.

Mr Johnson said: 'I think the band will be disappointed. Harry, who wrote the song, will definitely be disappointed by that. He's a die hard Norwich fan and Gary Doherty was his favourite player. He will be upset.

'Maybe, depending on who buys him, we could change the sleeve and the strip and the release so we could get the new club to get behind it! They won't do that - they're big Norwich City fans.'

The track contains the lyric 'forget the papers' which makes reference to the way Doherty is sometimes made a scapegoat in some of the national newspapers.

To find out more about the band log on to www.myspace.com/wecantdanceuk or look at the band's page on Facebook

Are you part of a city band which is on the verge of national acclaim Call Evening News reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk