David Cuffley The Canaries are prepared to let midfielder Simon Lappin go - but at a price.Lappin, who has one year left on his contract at Carrow Road, spent the second half of last season on loan at Motherwell.

David Cuffley

The Canaries are prepared to let midfielder Simon Lappin go - but at a price.

Lappin, who has one year left on his contract at Carrow Road, spent the second half of last season on loan at Motherwell.

But manager Glenn Roeder believes the 25-year-old Scot still wants to be a success in the Championship, even if it isn't at Norwich.

Lappin's last senior appearance for City came in the 3-0 defeat at Plymouth last November, and his chances of regaining a regular first-team place next season look limited.

Said Roeder: “He's got a contract and obviously we would honour that contract. That goes without saying. But the very fact that I allowed him out on loan suggests that he hasn't got a great future here, but if he wants to come back, he's got the contract and he'll come back.

“He will find it difficult to get into the team that I have in my mind. But he is a talented player, there's no doubt about it. He's got a very cultured left foot and I'm sure there are a number of clubs out there - in fact we know there are a number of clubs out there - that do see him that way and do think he could play a part in their new season. Consequently he is a player that has a value.”

Lappin has made 33 appearances for City, scoring three times, since his move from St Mirren in January 2007 for a reported £75,000.

Motherwell boss Mark McGhee is reported to be waiting to hear Lappin's intentions.

“I think it may be more a case of whether Simon himself wants to stay at Motherwell or whether he wants to come back into the English league and try his hand again in the Championship,” said Roeder.

“There are other clubs that I know in the Championship would give him that opportunity. If those clubs come forward, and we know they are out there, we'll tell those clubs what we're looking for for him, because he's certainly not a free transfer.”

Roeder admitted City had made a late bid to capture Derry City winger Paddy McCourt, who instead joined Celtic on Thursday.

He said: “We showed a little bit of interest but it was late in the day. For a lot of Irish lads, a lot of them either support Celtic or Rangers and I assume that when Celtic, who are a giant of Scottish football, came forward, it would have made it not only nearly impossible for us but for anyone else in the Championship.

“We've completely re-jigged our recruitment set-up here, a completely new set-up headed by Bryan Gunn, and one of the three major new scouts that will be working for us is Barry Hunter, who has played for Northern Ireland and will be a major player for us sourcing new talent. He told me about him and we had a look at it. It might well have happened but the fact that Celtic came in late and fast swept him off his feet and I understand that and I wish Pat all the best.”