Malky Mackay has ruled himself out of contention for the managerial vacancy at Norwich City.
The Cardiff boss was installed as an early favourite for the Carrow Road job as soon as it became clear that Paul Lambert was quitting the club but has pledged his future to the Welsh side.
Mackay left Celtic for Norwich in 1998 and became a firm favourite at the club and was voted into their Hall of Fame before moving on to West Ham and Watford.
After two seasons managing Watford he moved to Cardiff last summer and has set his sights on taking the Welsh side into the Premiership after losing out in this season’s play-off’s to West Ham.
“I have started a long-term project and want to stay and finish it,” the Cardiff boss stated. “I am very flattered to be linked with the vacancy at Norwich City, they are and always will be a club close to my heart.
“I have a lot of good friends within the club and great respect for Delia Smith and her husband Michael Wynn-Jones. David McNally, the club’s chief executive, has handled this situation well and is guiding Norwich in the right direction.
“However, I have started a project at Cardiff City. We have put in a structure for long-term success at this football club and we are still working on that.
“I am fully committed to our football club and the challenges ahead.”
Chris Hughton, Ian Holloway and Tim Sherwood have been strongly linked with the Norwich job with the club hoping to make an early appointment to ensure some stability following Lambert’s three years at the club.
Dealing with the transfer request from top scorer Grant Holt will be a priority with West Ham, Sunderland and Aston Villa all reportedly interested in signing up the striker.
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I most certainly agree with his decision, Cardiff will surely be one of the favs for promotion next season, while Norwich will have a real fight on their hands to stave of relegation.
Really a no-brainer, stay with a club on the way up or jump ship to a club more than likely on the way down again.
I am surprised that Lambert has jumped to Villa, although they were so poor last season, anything will be seen as a success. But with Houliier & O’Neill having spent a lot of cash, I think he will have to do it on a shoestring. I’d have expected Lambert to move to a bigger / better club which I sure he will using Villa as a further stepping stone.