McNally issues hands-off warning

David Cuffley Norwich City chief executive David McNally has repeated the club's “hands off” warning to any club wanting to take Paul Lambert away from Carrow Road.Lambert's success at City has thrust him into the spotlight as one of the game's bright young managers.

David Cuffley

Norwich City chief executive David McNally has repeated the club's “hands off” warning to any club wanting to take Paul Lambert away from Carrow Road.

Lambert's success at City has thrust him into the spotlight as one of the game's bright young managers.

Burnley were the first club to be linked with him when, in January, they lost manager Owen Coyle to Bolton Wanderers.

City fans breathed a sigh of relief when Burnley appointed Brian Laws, but it wasn't long before the issue reared its ugly head again.

This time it was the demise of Tony Mowbray as Celtic manager which led to reports that Lambert would be returning to the club for whom he made 275 first team appearances.

Celtic gave Neil Lennon the job on an interim basis - until the end of the season - and Lennon remains favourite to take over.

Lennon was quoted last night by Sky Bet as 6-4 to be made permanent boss, with Lambert second favourite at 5-1.

Lambert has insisted he is happy at Carrow Road, where he is on a rolling contact - and that's just where McNally wants to keep him.

“If anybody came in for him, we would say, 'Your interest is not welcome, you do not have permission to speak to him, please go away',” said McNally, speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk.

“Paul's very happy at Norwich City. He's got a job to do and I know he's looking forward to next season.

“Of course we all hope we'll be in the Championship. That will bring for all of us some real challenges but I am sure he's planning to take this great club forward.”