Lambert takes Norwich top as club go to war with newspaper

Nowich overtook Leeds United to go to the top of Division One on Saturday but the result has been overshadowed by claims that the club is in serious financial difficulties.

Sunday's News of the World claimed that Paul Lambert's club are on the verge of administration triggering a furious denial from the club.

Celtic's issues last week with the Daily Record pale into insignificance compared to the reaction from Norwich to the News of the World story.

A legal letter has been sent to the newspaper publishers and reproduced on the Canaries website.

In summary the letter states: “Our client is not on the brink of administration.

“Our client is not teetering on the brink of financial meltdown.

“Our client will not go into administration by Thursday 28 January 2010 (or any other date) if they cannot find major (or any) new investors.

“Neither Ernst Young or KPMG nor any other person or firm has been "called in" as a potential administrator; and

“Our client does not desperately need new investment to stave off administration.”

The website demanded: “In the circumstances, our client requires the following:

“ 1. A full apology in wording to be agreed, to be published in at least as prominent a position in the next edition of the "News of the World" and on the NOTW website; in the same quantity as the offending Article.

“ 2. Payment of a substantial sum in damages

“ 3. Payment of all legal costs incurred to date

“ 4. An undertaking not to republish the article or repeat its allegations.

“Should you fail to satisfy these requirements our client will commence an action for defamation. We expect the immediate withdrawal of the Article from your websites and your full response within 7 day.”

Going to the top of the league looks like a side issue compared to the language used in that letter!

Lambert has done a fantastic job on Norwich with 25,000 watching their win over Brentford which almost aggregates the entire weekend attendances of the SPL outwith the Rangers-Hearts match.

After a troubled start to his management career at Livingston and Wycombe and a controversial departure from Colchester the former Celtic skipper is starting to enjoy the success he had as a player.

Promotion now looks likely for Norwich, after their clash with the News of the World keeping hold of their manager could be the club's biggest challenge.

Nowich website statement

Lambert joy as Norwich move into third place

Paul Lambert was the happiest former Celt after today's action with Norwich moving into third place in League One with an impressive 3-0 home win over Huddersfield.

The on-loan Celts are disappearing fast with Simon Ferry helping Swindon Town to a 2-1 home win over Brighton that takes Danny Wilson's side into a play-off place.

Ben Hutchison failed to make the bench for Swindon as did Darren O'Dea at Reading and Cillian Sheridan with Plymouth.

There is risk and understanding in all loan deals but only Ferry has benefited from regular football during his loan spell. Hutchison's 'chance' at Celtic has probably come and gone but both O'Dea and Sheridan have hopes of a Celtic career which hasn't been advanced by their loan deals.

At Carrow Road Lambert seems to be getting on top of things despite taking over after the season had started.

Haunting him through the season will be Norwich's 7-1 home defeat from Colchester when he was in charge of the visitors, although that result clearly put him in the frame for the Norwich gig Colchester are just three points behind with a game and hand and the threat of action from the Football League hanging over Lambert's departure to Norwich.

In midweek Norwich had lost out on penalties to Southampton in the Johnston's Paints trophy with today's match goal-less at the interval before goals from Wes Hoolahan, Chris Martin and Gary Docherty earned the points in front of 25,000 fans.

After today's win the former Celtic captain said: "I thought the players were extraordinary. Particularly after Southampton. To go out there; the long journey back and everything. I thought they were extraordinary.

"What was said in the dressing room stays there, but I wasn't too disappointed. Sometimes you have to ride a storm before you can come through it. But it's not about me... it's the lads that have to do it, they have to come through it.

"They're the ones that have done it, they're the ones that have given the club back that winning feeling."

Sutton to face hoops in the FA Cup

Fresh from steering Lincoln City into the second round of the FA Cup at Telford manager Chris Sutton now finds himself up against the super hoops of giantkillers Northwich Victoria.

The Conference North side are currently in administration, a terrible fate for any football club, but put that behind them to beat Division One pacesetters Charlton 1-0 today.

The game against Lincoln is again likely to attract television coverage giving Northwich another financial boost with both clubs looking to make the next round when the Premiership clubs (pay-days) enter the competition.

Lincoln qualified for the 2nd Round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2003 thanks to a 3-1 win at Telford with Sergio Torres amongst the scorers for the visitors.

Elsewhere in the FA Cup Paul Lambert's Norwich City have an away tie at Morecombe or Carlisle United while Swindon Town will be away from home to Conference side Wrexham.

WATFORD

Amongst the loan Celts and former Celts dotted around the game there wasn't much to cheer about over the weekend with Malky Mackay's Watford continuing their yo-yo season with a 2-0 home win Preston.

Following last week's 5-0 defeat at West Brom Mackay will be pleased to see his side back to winning ways and sitting comfortably in mid-table.

Loan Celts Darren O'Dea and Cillian Sheridan again had to make do with viewing from the bench as Reading drew at home with Roy Keane's Ipswich and Plymouth's revival continued with a 2-1 home win over Doncaster Rovers.

Over in Hungary Willie McStay would have been disappointed by his side's 1-0 defeat at home to league leaders Videoton which allowed the visitors to double their lead at the top of the table.