Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert is taking his former employers Norwich City to an industrial tribunal to discuss compensation for his departure from Carrow Road in June.

The two clubs are now at legal loggerheads with the Canaries believing they should be paid compensation by Aston Villa for luring the Scot away from Norwich, who finished 12^th under Lambert last season.

However, Villa believe their manager had a clause in his contract allowing him to talk to other Premier League clubs, and effectively left Carrow Road as a free agent. Last night, Norwich chairman Alan Bowkett revealed that Paul Lambert is now suing his former employers for unfair dismissal and breach of contract.

At a Norwich fans forum, Bowkett said: “We say he walked out on us – Villa said he was a free agent so they are not paying us compensation, which we take issue with.

“However, interestingly, Paul Lambert is taking Norwich City to an industrial tribunal for unfair dismissal and breach of contract, and he wants £1.5m to £2m from us. So we look forward to those tribunals.”

The allegations between the two clubs will no doubt intensify the importance of their match against each other at the end of the month, as both clubs attempt to avoid relegation this season.