Paul Lambert pledges future to Norwich as Burnley snubbed

Norwich manager Paul Lambert last night committed himself to the Canaries, despite Burnley's interest in the Scot.

The Clarets yesterday approached their npower Championship rivals for permission to speak to Lambert about their managerial vacancy. Norwich refused and last night Lambert insisted he is staying at Carrow Road. A statement from Lambert on the club's official website, www.canaries.co.uk, read: "I said last week there was nothing in the Burnley speculation. I can't stop speculation linking me with other clubs but I've said on numerous occasions before that I am happy here and that is still the case.

"The players and the fans have been tremendous for us since we joined here and what they have achieved over the last 16 months or so is absolutely phenomenal, as I keep saying. We've got a job to do here, starting with an important FA Cup match against Leyton Orient tomorrow - and that's what I want everyone to be focusing on. I want to put the speculation to bed - I've never had any intention of going elsewhere and nothing has changed. All the speculation is wide of the mark and hopefully now the rumour mill about the Burnley job can focus elsewhere and we can all move on."

Norwich's statement read: "City refused Burnley permission to speak to Lambert after they decided to publicise their interest on their website. This morning Lambert said he was happy with the Norwich club statement denying Burnley permission to speak to him and placing on record how important Paul and his backroom team of Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa were to the club's future plans."

The Clarets have been without a manager since parting company with Brian Laws on 29 December, with Stuart Gray placed in caretaker charge.