Lambert reveals Norwich chairman snub

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert admits he had not spoken to Norwich chairman Alan Bowkett for two years as he prepares to face his former club at Villa Park.

Lambert will do battle with the Canaries for the first time since he quit Carrow Road at the end of last season to take charge at Villa. Lambert and Norwich are suing each other for breach of contract and the matter will be decided by a Premier League manager's tribunal. But Lambert was upset last month when Bowkett made the matter public at a fans' forum and claimed he had left all of his previous clubs in a similar manner. Lambert insists his action is only a counter-claim to Norwich's charge that he breached his contract when resigning five months ago. When asked about Bowkett's claims, Lambert said: "I don't know because I've never spoken to the chairman for about three years. "Perhaps that is a bit of an exaggeration, maybe two. It's a good chunk of time. Why? That's football. Let him talk. We will see what happens."