Paddy Davitt Norwich defender Simon Lappin warns the Canaries will be a prized League One scalp next season. Lappin issued a relegation reality check in the wake of City's abject Championship exit at The Valley after Bryan Gunn's men meekly slipped into the third tier alongside former Premier League duo Charlton and Southampton.

Paddy Davitt

Norwich defender Simon Lappin warns the Canaries will be a prized League One scalp next season.

Lappin issued a relegation reality check in the wake of City's abject Championship exit at The Valley after Bryan Gunn's men meekly slipped into the third tier alongside former Premier League duo Charlton and Southampton.

“You look at the three clubs that have gone down and it's going to be a tough ask getting out of that league,” said the Scot. “We've certainly got no divine right to come straight back up. It's alright saying the club is a big one and that we have the fan base and the facilities but we have to go out and do it on the park. We're not a Premier club or a Championship club but a League One club now and we're going to be seen as a scalp. We have to deal with that because it'll be a tough league where teams will come to Carrow Road and fancy turning us over.”

Lappin - out-of-contract this summer - is among a host of club personnel on and off the pitch facing an uncertain future as the club's hierarchy sift through the wreckage of Championship relegation.

“It's going to be a difficult summer,” he said. “Everything is going to be in the lap of the gods. Everyone is fighting for their future. I'm out of contract so I am in the same boat but I'd already told the club I want to stay and get us back up. I told the manager I want to put this right and get us back in the Championship.”

The 25-year-old admitted City's last day no show at The Valley was the lowest point of his career.

“This is the first time it's ever happened to me and I don't want to experience it ever again,” said the Scot, who 12 months ago was helping Motherwell secure Uefa Cup football after being frozen out of Glenn Roeder's plans. “The dressing room was quiet but the manager doesn't have to come in and say anything to us after that. What can he say? It's just a terrible feeling in the pit of your stomach. You knew in the back of your minds that this could happen but now its actually happened and we go away for the summer knowing we have been relegated its hard to take. In footballing terms it is as low as you can get.”

Lappin shouldered his share of the blame for a woeful defensive display at The Valley, saying: “It was embarrassing to be 3-0 down after 35 minutes. We got a glimmer of hope with a goal just before half time and then we concede a fourth - which I hold my hands up for. It was totally my mistake and that has killed us.

“It's hard to put your finger on why we never got started in the first half because we knew what was at stake. The fans have turned up again in their droves and they didn't deserve that. We have to be better. This is an absolutely horrible feeling - no two ways about it. From my point of view I'm devastated.”