Chris LakeyCanaries chief David McNally says Paul Lambert is under no pressure to get rid of high-earning out-of-favour players. Striker Jamie Cureton hasn't played a league game since October and has been linked with a move away from Carrow Road during the emergency loan window.Chris Lakey

Canaries chief David McNally says Paul Lambert is under no pressure to get rid of high-earning out-of-favour players.

Striker Jamie Cureton hasn't played a league game since October and has been linked with a move away from Carrow Road during the emergency loan window. Goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos has been out in the cold even longer, having been axed after the 7-1 opening day defeat by Colchester - and is not even featuring for the reserves.

Both were expected to be senior players this season and would be on salaries to match - but neither has kicked a ball in anger for months.

With City working closely with professional advisors Deloitte to help the club bring in new investment, every saving is highly valued at Carrow Road. But McNally insists that while Lambert isn't immune to cost-cutting, he is not being forced to make savings.

'The priority for us is to ensure that the manager can maintain a very competitive position at the top of the table between now and the end of the season, so he is under absolutely no pressure to get any fringe player out whatsoever,' he said. 'Yes, of course, if they are out on loan somewhere else the club would save some money, but the priority has always been promotion and so our conversations with the manager are simply about that.'

Lambert has two players out on loan - Owain Tudur Jones at Yeovil and Rhoys Wiggins at Bournemouth - while winger Simon Whaley's contract was terminated last month.

However, he did turn two loans - those of Russell Margin and Anthony McNamee - into full signings during the January transfer window and completed two other permanent deals, for striker Oli Johnson and defender Zak Whitbread, as well as bringing Michael Rose in on loan until the end of the campaign.

That may be it for the rest of the season, although the emergency window does allow him scope - with dealings in and out.

Cureton's City future has been in doubt for some time and there has been a constant trickle of speculation linking him with a move away before his contract expires in the summer.

Gillingham were interested, but it appears wages put the block on a switch, while Shrewsbury's interest was revealed this week - although McNally says there has been nothing official from any clubs.

'Nothing has happened since the window closed and obviously the emergency loan window opens - which is a peculiar Football League fact - but we have not had any inquiries directly,' he said.

'There were discussions during the window about a number of our players, including Jamie, but nothing happened.'

McNally said the club were still looking at Deloitte's first findings.

'We are still looking at all the documentation involved in that,' he said. 'We believe we have the right financial advisors in Deloitte. They are certainly experts in this industry so we are happy with that and at some point in the not too distant future they will be instructed to go and find some new investment, but in a planned and controlled way.

'Rest assured that the major shareholders of this football club have the club at heart and they will ensure that every decision made is for the good of the football club.

'The planning stage of any task is detailed and we have been looking at that - we have been looking at all of the financial investment options open to us and they are delighted to be involved with Norwich City, so that suggests they believe they can help, if I can put it that way.'