When Grant Holt put in a shock transfer request last week the initial assumption was that the 31 year old was capitalising on a solitary decent season in the top flight to secure a big-money move away from Carrow Road. Cue widespread condemnation.
The Cutter understands however that avarice and ambition are not the determining factors in his desire to leave East Anglia but rather a working relationship with manager Paul Lambert that has reportedly soured beyond repair.
While the board have done all they can by offering the striker – who is already the club’s highest earner – a bumper pay rise within an improved three-year deal it may not be enough to keep Holt from the clutches of a chasing pack of clubs, headed by Sunderland.
The proffered £20,000 a week would be easily topped at the Stadium of Light with Martin O’Neill desperate to add a prolific targetman as his first order of business in the summer window. After missing out on Fulham’s Pavel Pogrebnyak and the capture of Ivory Coast star Arouna Kone now looking extremely unlikely Holt has been identified as the perfect candidate – for the perfect price – to lead the Wearsider’s front line next term.
Holt himself however has confessed to being settled in the Norwich area and enjoys the adoration of his cult status amongst the fans. Although missing out of a Euro squad place was understandably a massive disappointment – with the feeling that should his 17 goals have been scored for a supposedly bigger club such heartbreak would have been avoided – the Canaries’ fantastic mid-table finish have matched his ambitions to succeed at the highest level and there is the real possibility of progressing further next season.
However, all of that has been rendered redundant due to the rumoured breakdown in communication with the man who can make that progression happen.
Paul Lambert has garnered a lot of praise for his sterling work at Carrow Road, taking them to back-to-back promotions to the promised land of the Premier League. He does though have a cold, detached manner that has alienated some key personnel at the club notably Holt who is alleged to feel under-valued and disrespected by his gaffer.
The gruff Scot, who is no fan of the media, poured scorn on the rumours of a long-standing dispute between himself and Holt on Tuesday saying, “I’ve never had a fall out with Grant in one iota”. However, talk persists that this is indeed the real reason for the player’s recent actions in seeking a move elsewhere.
Of course, he may not have to. Lambert is himself heavily linked with a fresh challenge at Villa Park with the bookmakers installing him as clear favourite to take over from Alex McLeish. Though he has distanced himself from the rumours Canaries fans are becoming increasingly exasperated at Lambert’s refusal to issue a straightforward denial and the popular opinion is that should Villa make a formal approach Lambert – a man known in the game for his singular ambition – would be keen.
Whatever the outcomes what is becoming more so evident is that unless an unlikely accordant is reached Norwich City are almost certain to be minus a manager or star striker in the weeks ahead.
Are you an bitter Ipswich fan by any chance? Nothing new here other than pure conjecture about Holts relationship with Lambert.
What a load of tosh!! Both will stay!!!
Yet another very wide of the mark made up story, please do home work and at least read and listen to what the two men in question have said on the subject, that way fabricated stories won’t be wizzing around the webospere be added to as they go.
Complete tripe.
I am sure that you have done a little background info for your article, but I feel that it is full of assumption and riding on the back of all the other assumptions made by the media.
I watch the comings, goings and events at carrow road and have done so for the last 10 or so years. From what I am gleening Holt’s issues were talked about last week with CEO, money was not the main thrust of his issues. It seems as if respect was, and I am sure that it has been ironed out.
Lambert came oyt this week and said he is more than happy at the club, and has never mentioned or thought about leaving.
Of course you can never say never in the crazy world of Football, and that seems worse in the premiership. Thats not to say offers will come in that cannot be accepted, but that is the same through any transfer window.
But at the moment both are seemingly happy and staying
Wat a load of garbage. Tadbits taken from other reports most of which are fabrication in themselves and jumbled all together. Full of inconsistencies – title says certain, end of report says almost certain and how the writer can be 100% sure is beyond me anyway
Hire new reporters and stop reprinting fabricated garbage from the papers!
What a load of crap. Yawn…..
“He does though have a cold, detached manner that has alienated some key personnel at the club notably Holt ” What utter rubbish – “some key members” – who??? Holt – the man he has made captain for three years? The man who has never achieved anything better than working with Lambert.Someone who has played more than any other Norwich striker – this or any other of the last three seasons? Would Martin )’Neil build a system around Holt – no! Would the Sunderland fans appreciate him as much as at Carrow Road never. Would he ever likely be player of the year three seasons on the trot anywhere else – never. And as for England – yes I think he should have been considered (and probably was)but what about Crouch, or Zamora or Sinclair are we to beleive it was because of their team not the player that an ex WBA and Fulham manager did not pick
them? I appreciate it is quite fun to write any old rubbish just to stir people up – but occasionally spice up your article with the “odd” fact.
Hooray, more absolute bollocks! Unfortunately, you’re about a week too late.
YEP LOOKS LIKE A CLASS OF PERSONALITIES A COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM , WITH SOME LUCK FENCES CAN BE MENDED ! IF I WAS G.H. I WOULD STAY ON AND IMPROVE MY WORTH FOR ANOTHER SEASON THEN PERHAPS CASH IN WITH A MOVE TO BUILD THE PENSION POT !
Haha absolute rubbish, nothing like a story out to cause mischief without any credible source or corroborative evidence. My source says your barking up the wrong tree completely!
What a load of absolute shite! Nothing genuine to write about so these bullshitting hacks have to come up with something to earn a crust I suppose – wonder what it’ll be next…..Paul Lambert and Grant Holt fallen out after having an affair?
I’m glad to see you have upheld the fine journalistic tradition of never letting the facts get in the way of a story.
1. Lambert made Holt Captain
2. Lambert congratulates and talks to every player being substituted
3. Not once has Lambert criticised ANY of his players
4. Actually three points is enough to prove this story wrong.
Total and utter bullsh*t.
Sorry!
The continued use of fail “A” level grammer made it impossible for me to reach the end of this artical.
Poorly written with the speculative insight of a sixth form train spotter. Im sure we will see you soon featuring in a Murdoch tabloid.
It’s spelt ‘grammar’ and ‘article’.
Please don’t insult others’ use of grammar when you can barely use it yourself. It just makes you look silly.
What a load of SHITE. complete and utter bullshit, I just wish these so called journalists would do a bit of homework before TRYING to report on a story they know fuck all about. Both will stay and another amazing season will be coming to us again
Looks like this article was horseshit after all, Norwich aren’t losing Lambert OR Holt, they are losing Lambert AND Holt. Funny stuff.