Lambert bolts for Aston Villa

A month ago I wrote an article which stated that as long as Paul Lambert was in the Norwich City dug-out the sky was the limit. Now the worst-case scenario for Canaries fans has become a reality with the inspirational Scot having left to fill the vacant Aston Villa post.

Rubbing salt into a very deep wound is the news that captain and top goal-scorer Grant Holt also looks set to leave Norwich, with unsurprisingly Villa being the favoured destination.

Wednesday brought the news that all Canaries fans feared, that after failing to woo higher profile candidates such as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Roberto Martinez to the midlands, Villa were making Lambert their number one target.

Thursday morning brought about rumours of a furious row between Lambert and Delia Smith and her fellow Norwich board-members, over the latter’s refusal to allow Lambert to listen to what Villa had to offer.

Lambert handed in his resignation Thursday lunchtime although this was rejected with a Norwich City statement saying: ‘We have fought hard to keep Paul at Norwich and have not accepted his resignation whilst discussions with another club are taking place.

These discussions with Aston Villa have now been concluded, with the Villans rumoured to have paid £1.5million in compensation meaning Lambert has officially left Norwich.

It has been a sad week for Canaries fans. After a season with so many positives and many reasons to look forward with optimism, the future does not quite look as rosy at Carrow Road. Whilst Norwich fans are rightfully upset over Lambert’s departure, I am sure that he will go down as a legend at the club.

When he took over City were at the basement of League One and really struggling. Now the club are financially secure, possess a solid Premiership squad and position within the league. This is a platform which is enticing for the available managers out there, none of which would have been possible without Lambert; his time at Norwich will be remembered with great fondness.

If Grant Holt leaves this summer it is less likely he will be remembered in the same vein. The City captain seems to think he can do better than Carrow Road. This seems rich considering Holt has only played one season in the Premier League and ungrateful considering his entire reputation has been built playing in the Yellow and Green.

Holt tweeted that he wants to leave due to ‘disagreements with the board’. BBC Sport reports that the powers that be at Norwich believe him to be too old at 31 to be deserving of a new three-year contract. Holt is rumoured to want to at least double his £16,000 a week deal. These all seem high demands for a player who in reality has only had one decent season at the top level and is well into the last stretch of his career.

Whilst it may seem that the wheels have truly fallen off the Canaries journey back to being a successful club, there is reason to be hopeful. Early speculation suggests that Malky Mackay, Steve Bruce and Chris Hughton to be in line for the Norwich post. If this gives you hope for the club’s future, check out freebets.org/ for more information about their odds next season.

All have been successful at various levels of football. Personally I would pick Hughton as he possesses the calm temperament and in-control demeanour that Norwich need right now. Whilst this is an untimely end to the most successful period in recent Canaries history, with a strong squad and firm foundations left by Lambert hopefully there is reason to be positive about the future.

To read Charlie’s last article on Paul Lambert: 

http://www.ueadrop.co.uk/en/photos/football/2012-05-02/1151/the-man-in-the-dugout-paul-lambert.html