NORWICH City fans might want to keep the champagne on ice for just a little bit longer.

NORWICH City fans might want to keep the champagne on ice for just a little bit longer.

The Norfolk club will face a football disciplinary hearing on Monday and Tuesday of next week regarding their appointment of manager Paul Lambert from League One rivals Colchester United last August.

Norwich are currently on a high after they seemingly sealed promotion back to the Championship last weekend with a 1-0 win over Charlton. In contrast, Colchester are close to missing out on a play-off spot following a miserable run of form.

All that could change however depending on the decision of the Football League appointed disciplinary commission next week. If the chairman of the commission rules in Colchester’s favour, Norwich would face a punishment ranging from financial sanctions to a points deduction.

U’s chairman and owner Robbie Cowling has always alleged that he didn’t give Norwich permission to appoint Lambert last August – just days after the Scotsman had masterminded Colchester’s incredible 7-1 win at Carrow Road on the opening day of the season.

Months of failed negotiations followed between the two clubs before Cowling reported Norwich to the Football League for breach of league regulations and misconduct last November.

Norwich City chairman Alan Bowkett maintained in February that his club made a ‘lawful approach’ for Lambert and that an ‘over generous’ offer of compensation had been made. Cowling – who has appointed a Queen’s Councillor to present his club’s case – refutes both those claims.

The U’s have also reported Lambert, as well his coaching assistants Gary Karsa and Ian Culverhouse (both of whom followed him from Colchester to Norwich) to the Football League for individual rule breaches.