Lambert excited by Villa challenge

Paul Lambert says he feels honoured to have been appointed as Aston Villa’s new manager and is looking forward to the challenge ahead.

The former Norwich City boss was unveiled at Villa Park on Wednesday and insisted he would thrive on the pressure that comes with the position.

“I can’t wait to get into it and see what’s going to happen but I’m honoured to be manager of this football club and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got to try and make it as successful as I can,” Lambert told reporters.

“There’s a lot of expectancy on me which isn’t something that I’m going to shy away from. It’s something I’m going to thrive on.

“There’s pressure to go and get results and that’s what I’ll try and do – to try and get results as quickly as I possibly can.

Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner stressed that the Scot was right at the top of the club’s managerial shortlist.

“I think Paul’s track record speaks for itself. We were very clear from the start of the type of manager that we wanted to bring in; someone who was young and was going to bring some vibrancy back to the club,” he said.

Faulkner said there would be transfer money available for Lambert and is hoping new players will come to the Birmingham club in the close-season.

“We’ve already had some conversations and we know we have to work with Paul to freshen up the squad,” Faulkner said.

“We had a poor, disappointing season last year and that’s why I think we have to get to work, early in the summer and try to bring people in.”