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Norwich chief executive David McNally insists his club are on a firm footing despite Grant Holt’s request to leave Carrow Road.

The 31-year-old talisman’s transfer request was rejected by the Canaries on Friday following a superb first season in the Premier League, following speculation linking Norwich manager Paul Lambert with vacant positions elsewhere.

However, chief executive McNally took to Twitter on Saturday in a bid to calm supporters about the club’s future.

“We did receive a transfer request from Grant Holt yesterday [Friday]. It was rejected immediately,” McNally said.

“At our club, we deal with the out-of-contract players first of all when each season ends.

“We then deal with players where the club may have an option to extend their contracts. This season, there are several in this category.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal eased into the final of the Italian Open with a straight-sets 7-6 (8-6) 6-0 victory against David Ferrer in Rome.

Nadal was made to work hard in the opening set by a battling Ferrer.

But once he took it in the tie-break, he did not allow his compatriot a route back into the match and wrapped up the second set without dropping a game.

Nadal will meet either Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic, who meet in Saturday’s other semi-final.

More to follow.

England’s Richard Finch shocked German world number nine Martin Kaymer to advance to the last 16 of the World Match Play at Finca Cortesin, Spain.

Finch, ranked 218 in the world, recorded a one-hole win over the number one seed to become the seventh UK player to reach the second round.

Ian Poulter, Tom Lewis, Graeme McDowell, Paul Lawrie, Robert Rock and Justin Rose are all through.

But Open champion Darren Clarke has gone out.

Clarke, who has failed to survive a halfway cut this season, lost twice on Friday, by two holes to Rock and 64 to Rose.

In the morning session, Lewis’s one-hole win over John Senden secured his and defending champion Poulter’s… Continue reading Finch shocks Kaymer at Match Play