Norwich deny Neil Lennon approach

NORWICH chief executive David McNally has strongly refuted reports that the Canaries have made an approach to Celtic for manager Neil Lennon.

The Northern Irishman was tipped as a replacement for Paul Lambert, his former Celtic team-mate, who has offered his resignation ahead of his expected move to Aston Villa.

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay, another former Celtic player, has also been linked with a return to his former club but McNally said: “It is interesting because I have seen reported today that we have contacted both of their clubs about their managers. We haven’t and I would like to put that on record.

“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.

“I can confirm that no approach has been made for Neil Lennon. 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 and Dermot Desmond [Celtic’s majority shareholder] would be the first to know.”

It is understood the Parkhead club would not entertain any approach for Lennon, who won his first Clydesdale Bank Premier League title as manager last season. McNally did, however, admit the club are in the process of looking for a new manager with Lambert almost certainly expected to move to Villa.

“We are looking for a new manager, that is likely what we concentrate on in the next few weeks,” McNally added. “We were in a situation where we were approached by another club to speak to Paul Lambert, we didn’t grant them permission and we were very clear we wanted to keep our manager who has been incredibly successful.

“When it was indicated by our manager that he would like the opportunity to speak to this particular club the dynamics changed, and then it was about talking to them about compensation, agreeing compensation and sorting out a time frame, and we are still in that process.”

McNally praised Lambert’s contribution during his time at Carrow Road but is hoping the situation can be resolved as quickly as possible.

He said: “Paul Lambert has been fantastic for this football club for three years and he will quite rightly take his place in Norwich City history and we will always be very grateful to Paul for his achievements here.

“Paul did tender his resignation but we haven’t accepted it – that is our right and we will attempt to get to a conclusion on this. The lawyers will be involved and we will see if we can get through this as quickly as possible – and we (can) focus on our search for a new manager.”