Norwich City supporters see the remaining fixtures more a natural progression to promotion than a battle still fraught with risk. And the unasked question many will be considering must be: "Will Paul Lambert be left with nothing to improve his Premiership side? The same as Nigel Worthington was?

There is no question of Paul Lambert being able to spot a talent ina young player that other managers have overlooked. His record speaks for itself. Even Lambert, though, will admit that his squad needs strengthening if Norwich have any hopes of surviving in the Premiership, if that is to be our lot next season.

It isn't hard to cast your mind back to the summer of 2004. The hype from the boardroom was all about modelling the club on Charlton Athletic and bouncing back out of and into the Premier League.

As for the question of a transfer budget, then Chief Executive, Neil Doncaster, started a mantra that is the most despised period of the club's history to date. Ambition with Prudence. Or, to put it into the terms that eventually led to Doncaster's downfall, "Wer're Doomed, I tell ye... doomed". Fans of Dad's army will recognise the catchphrase of Private Fraser.

As for following the Charlton model, how glad we are that we didn't. Stuck, as they are, in League One mid-table mediocrity.

How encouraging, then, to read what the current Chief Executive had to say when speaking to BBC Radio Five Live after the 5-1 win over Ipswich. The questions got around, typically, to life in the Premier League.

David McNally was pragmatic, as is becoming his trade mark with City fans.

“First things first, let’s get there,” said the City chief. “If and when we get to the Premier League – and we’ve got three huge games before we do; we have got two big games at Carrow Road against Derby and Coventry who will be tough opponents, and then we are away at Portsmouth at Fratton Park, which is always a tricky place to get any kind of result.

“They are three hard games; it’s not a bad run in but if and when we are playing in the big league, then we will sit down with Paul and put together a plan that will be focused on ensuring we stay in the league, nothing else.

“But there is plenty of big football experience at the football club. Indeed, Paul Lambert has played at the very highest level and been successful at the highest level.

“But on and off the park at Carrow Road we have plenty of Premier League experience, and so our fans shouldn’t worry too much about our experience in that regard.”

Now, if you are a Norwich City fan reading this, doesn't that make you feel more confident than the threat that the club would spend the next 12 months budgeting for relegation?

Thank you, Mr Doomcaster. Look where your policies led us.

Photo: Action Images

Norwich City Polls