Norwich City chief executive David McNally feels that Paul Lambert would have decided to join a big club rather than Aston Villa.
The Scotsman last week left Carrow Road to take the job at Villa Park which McNally admits was a surprise as he feels Lambert could have eventually moved to a top club competing in the Champions League.
"And I am not being disrespectful to Aston Villa, because clearly they are previous European Cup winners and have won league titles.
"But we thought he would go to a team that was perhaps competing in the Champions League even. It was inevitable because he is very good, he is a very good football manager.
"He has done brilliantly for Norwich City. I would say of course that Norwich City have done brilliantly for him too - and I am sure that he recognises that.
"But he has been a great, great servant for that three years to this football club, and look where we are now.
"So, yes, it was inevitable but, yes we are a bit surprised he hasn't gone to a team that is competing in the Champions League.""We believe that it was inevitable at some point that Paul would leave us - we thought for a very big team, one of the big clubs in the game," McNally told The Pink 'Un.
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