Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay has distanced himself from the vacant Norwich City manager's position, saying: 'I have started a long-term project and want to stay and finish it.'

Quoted on Wales Online, Mackay continued: 'I am fully committed to our football club and the challenges ahead.'

Norwich City are reported to have contacted Cardiff City and registered their interest in their former player earlier this week.

Mackay spent six years at Carrow Road and has emotional ties at the football club and around the area.

'I am very flattered to be linked with the vacancy at Norwich City,' said Mackay. '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 work closely with chief executive Alan Whiteley, while Vincent Tan has put in major investment.

'I am fully committed to our football club and the challenges ahead.'

McNally has said that Norwich would only appoint a manager with 'top level' experience which seemed to rule out Mackay, who had already told the Canaries he was staying at Cardiff City.

Birmingham manager Chris Hughton is now thought to be hot favourite to take the job at Carrow Road.