For two clubs locked in a bitter off-field battle for the past nine months, City and Colchester very quickly tied up the David Fox transfer. A fee was agreed between the two clubs on Thursday - two days after the findings of the Football League disciplinary commission were made public - before Fox met the Canaries to discuss personal terms.

For two clubs locked in a bitter off-field battle for the past nine months, City and Colchester very quickly tied up the David Fox transfer.

A fee was agreed between the two clubs on Thursday - two days after the findings of the Football League disciplinary commission were made public - before Fox met the Canaries to discuss personal terms.

City boss Paul Lambert said: "When I was at Colchester I had a good relationship with people. What happened has happened. It doesn't really matter. I don't have anything bad to say about Colchester."

Chief executive David McNally added: "It worked really well, it was business as usual. They were thoroughly professional, as we expected them to be, through the whole process and the deal has been concluded amicably."

Colchester chairman Robbie Cowling said Fox and his family had "never really settled" in the area.

"We agreed that if another club came in for him, we would consider letting him go," said Cowling.

"We got him on a free contract 12 months ago and now Norwich have offered a fee for him. It is not productive to have unhappy players here at Colchester United and it was in ours and David's best interests that he moved on."