City's fighting talk over Lambert

Norwich have vowed to do everything they can to keep manager Paul Lambert at the club amid speculation he is Aston Villa's top target.

The Scotsman is understood to be the Midlands club's first-choice to replace Alex McLeish after they called time on his 11-month tenure yesterday. But Norwich chief executive David McNally is promising to fight off any bids for the manager who has overseen back to back promotions followed by a 12th-place finish in the Premier League. "We would not welcome any enquiry for our football manager or any of the club's football players," McNally said. "We will do everything we can and fight this as hard as we have ever fought." Lambert, along with Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, were quickly named as likely successors and the 42-year-old Scot is emerging as the firm favourite.