Norwich searching for new boss, admits chief

Norwich chief executive David McNally has admitted the club are in the hunt for a new manager despite rejecting Paul Lambert’s resignation.

Aston Villa reportedly approached the Canaries regarding the 42-year-old’s availability earlier in the week, but were swiftly denied.

Despite dismissing all overtures from the Villans or Lambert himself thus far, it appears Norwich have given up hope of keeping the Scot at Carrow Road with McNally revealing that once compensation is agreed with the Midlands club, the club will be forced to replace their outgoing manager.

“We are looking for a new manager, that is likely to be what we concentrate on for the next few days, weeks maybe,” McNally told Sky Sports News.

“We are in a situation where we were approached by another club asking for permission to speak to Paul Lambert, we didn’t grant permission and were very clear we wanted to keep our manager who has been incredibly successful.

“Then when it was indicated by our manager that he wanted to speak to the club the dynamics changed, and so then it is about talking to them about compensation and agreeing compensation and a time frame, and we are still in this process.”

McNally spoke highly of the work that Lambert had done for the club and how he would have liked to keep him at Norwich.

But he was quick to quash reports of a clash over budgets with the Scot led to his resignation request.

“We knew one day he might leave and three years is probably twice the average tenure in the Premier League and we are very grateful to Paul,” McNally said.

“I have to say that Paul Lambert has been fantastic for this football club over three years and will quite rightfully take his place in Norwich City history and we will always be grateful for what he has achieved.

“There has been lots of wild speculation about a wage ceiling, but there isn’t one at this club, there has been lots of wild speculation about you can’t have this player or that player.”

With Norwich now seeking a new manager, speculation has mounted that they are looking at Celtic boss Neil Lennon, but McNally insisted that there has been no contact for any other managers so far.

“I can confirm that no approach has been made for Neil Lennon,” he said.

“If we were interested in talking to them about Neil, he’s a great manager, we would go straight to them quietly and privately, we wouldn’t announce it through the media.

“Celtic Football Club and Norwich City get on marvellously well, we had a great day here last week celebrating Adam Drury’s testimonial, the two sets of supporters get on brilliantly.”