Norwich boss Paul Lambert plots Premier League survival

Lambert has guided Norwich to successive promotions

Norwich City boss Paul Lambert says he will have to plot a way of competing with the Premier League's big spenders in order to survive next season.

Lambert secured promotion to the top flight on Monday with a squad of players obtained mainly from the lower reaches of the Football League.

"We aren't going to compete with the money there, the Manchester Uniteds and that," he told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"You have to try and think of another way you can stay in the league."

He added: "Time will tell, we've got a rough idea of what we want to do, I spoke with Ian [Culverhouse, assistant manager] and Gary [Karsa, coach] on Monday night and we'll do everything we can."

Lambert becomes the first coach to take a club from League One to the Premier League in consecutive seasons since Joe Royle achieved it with Manchester City in 2000.

"It's up there with anything I've done," said Lambert after the 1-0 win over Portsmouth on Monday.

"In the last two years it's a miracle what has happened."

Norwich were in the opening season of the Premier League in 1992-93 season where they finished third and have played a total of 21 campaigns in the highest division. They were relegated from the top flight alongside rivals Ipswich in 1994-95.

They dropped from the Championship to League One in May 2009 but made an immediate return a year later, winning the title by nine points last May.

Norwich reached rock bottom when they fell to a 7-1 defeat by Colchester - then managed by Lambert - on the opening day of last season.

The Canaries promptly hired the Scot as coach and, only 20 months later, Norwich have secured Premier League football once again.

And striker Grant Holt believes boss Lambert has been the key to the club's meteoric rise.

"The manager has been fantastic. He's a motivator and has been great for us," said Holt after the victory at Fratton Park.

"We've got a fantastic bunch of lads here. We've worked hard and I think when we're on it there's no-one better.

"We've a great team spirit and a great desire. It's a joy being with each other every day."

Simeon Jackson was the Canaries hero on the night with a second-half header to sink Portsmouth and secure second place in the Championship.

Norwich's main rivals for the second automatic promotion spot, Cardiff, were thrashed at home by Middlesbrough earlier on Monday, leaving the Canaries knowing that three points at Fratton Park would guarantee promotion.

"It's been a magnificent effort by everyone," stated Jackson. "It's not down to me, its down to everyone throughout the season. I can't believe we've done it."