Paul Lambert awaits Aston Villa job offer

Aston Villa will today meet Paul Lambert's representatives to make him an offer to become their new manager as a storm brewed over his the terms of departure from Norwich City.

The Express & Star understands Villa have made an official approach to Norwich for Lambert but the process was not as straightforward as anticipated with a pocket of resistance from within the Carrow Road boardroom.

It is believed that there is a clause in Lambert's contract which allows him to speak to Villa, although a significant figure at Norwich is at odds with the Scot and steadfastly refused to let him speak to the claret and blues.

After a frank conversation Lambert is reported to have signalled an intention to resign but Norwich have since refused to comment on whether this had been accepted or whether he has left the club.

It is believed that Lambert is now the only name under consideration for the Villa job although the club have other fallback options should they encounter any problems.

Villa owner Randy Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner will speak to Lambert and the club are hopeful that a compensation package, initially thought to be around £1m for his rolling contract, with Norwich can be quickly agreed despite the Scot's current situation.

Should everything go to plan the club will be in a position to confirm Lambert as Alex McLeish's successor at some stage early next week.

Lambert certainly fits the club's remit of a young, hungry and dynamic manager having taken Norwich from League One obscurity to 12th place in the Premier League after back-to-back promotions.

It would be a fairly popular appointment with supporters who gave him a ringing endorsement on a poll of potential new managers on www.expressandstar.co.uk

Villa's decision to make a move for Lambert became clearer after they ended their interest in Wigan boss Roberto Martinez despite informal contact with the Spaniard

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan claimed that Martinez elected to stay at the DW Stadium because Villa is not a "big enough" club for him but Villa are adamant that Lambert was their first choice all along.

Whelan said: "Roberto is staying at Wigan and, of course, I am absolutely delighted.

"He has had some talks with Villa but he's not going to go there. Villa are a fantastic club with great supporters but I never thought they were big enough for him.

"I've said all along that I never thought he would end up there and, fortunately for us, that's how it has turned out.

"If Roberto is to go anywhere, it will be to one of the top clubs in Europe. We're just so pleased he's staying with us."