Paddy DavittNorwich City chief executive David McNally issued a financial wake-up call in the aftermath of the Canaries' League One promotion success. McNally has estimated City's elevation back to the Championship could generate an extra �4m in annual turnover but warns Paul Lambert will still have to operate within tight constraints.Paddy Davitt

Norwich City chief executive David McNally issued a financial wake-up call in the aftermath of the Canaries' League One promotion success.

McNally has estimated City's elevation back to the Championship could generate an extra �4m in annual turnover but warns Paul Lambert will still have to operate within tight constraints.

'This is not like being promoted to the Premiership which would transform the profit and loss accounts of our particular football club,' he said.

'This is promotion to the Championship.

'Yes, it will mean more money but it's incremental - it won't transform our business.

'The other point we need to make is it's only the money we lost from when we were relegated.

'Of course, we will be better off financially at the margins but I can guarantee you that we will quickly spend that money on new contracts and new players.

'This year our turnover in League One should reach �17m or �18m. Small clubs in the Premier League have turnovers of �60m to �80m.

'If we do well next year out turnover could increase to about �21m or �22m so we're delighted to benefit but I would like to stress that the big move in football is from the Championship to the Premiership.'

McNally insists any grand civic celebrations can wait until Lambert's squad clinch the League One crown - with a point required at home against Gillingham on Saturday to guarantee top spot for the Canaries.

He said: 'First things first, let the team enjoy promotion then concentrate on the next game because wouldn't it be great to go up as champions

'Everyone at the football club, internally, is doing all we can to ensure we remain focussed on that.

'Then we can sit down and talk about how we recognise that achievement.

'It will be what the supporters want. Everybody seems to have an opinion on whether you should celebrate or not but my view, and I know it is shared by most of the experienced managers in football, is when you win anything in football, celebrate like there is no tomorrow.

'Winning things and success in football come along so rarely,' he added in his interview with BBC Radio Norfolk.

McNally believes Lambert's feat in clinching promotion with three league games left must not be underestimated.

'It's a massive achievement,' he said. 'You only have to look back over the wonderful history of our club to see how rare it is to achieve anything in this game. To win promotion at the first time of asking is a real achievement - look at the teams who have failed to do so in recent years, the likes of Leeds and Notts Forest to name two, so it's a great week for all Canaries fans.

'I don't normally allow anyone near me to tell me how other teams are doing but on Saturday I made an exception because it was such a crucial weekend. It was nerve-wracking but that is the game and we are used to it. It was exciting and scary but at this time of year it's all about results. We might have had a few stumbles near the finish line but lets not forget that our team has played the most exciting, attractive, attacking football in the league.'