Former Norwich City midfielder Gary Holt has left his player/coach role at Colchester United - and could yet join up with Paul Lambert at his old club.

Former Norwich City midfielder Gary Holt has left his player/coach role at Colchester United - and could yet join up with Paul Lambert at his old club.

The 36-year-old was signed by then Colchester manager Lambert in July, primarily as part of his coaching staff, with Holt also registering as a player.

The ex-Scotland international, on on the bench during City's opening day 7-1 humiliation against the Us, was charged with looking after the Colchester second string, until Lambert's acrimonious departure from Essex.

The new Norwich manager took his right-hand men - assistant Ian Culverhouse and football operations manager Gary Karsa - with him to Carrow Road two weeks into the season, but Holt's registration as a player left him to play a waiting game at Cuckoo Farm.However, after discussing the situation with new Colchester manager Aidy Boothroyd, Holt has been allowed to leave.

And that which could yet pave the way for a return to Norwich under Lambert, who also managed Holt during his second year at Wycombe Wanderers two seasons ago.

Boothroyd said: 'Gary came to see me and said that he thought it would be best for both parties for him to move on.

'I know Gary from our time at Norwich and there was no animosity, I respect his decision. We have parted on good terms and I will wish him well for the future.'

Holt spent a season under Lambert at Wycombe and having been released by the Chairboys in the summer, decided to team up again with the former Celtic star at Colchester as he looked to complete his coaching badges.

The veteran midfielder failed to make a senior appearance before his exit was confirmed yesterday, and sources in Essex believe it is highly likely the man who helped Norwich to a Division One play-off final and championship title will be handed a coaching role at City.

What that role maybe seems up for debate, with no obvious vacancy at Colney; Ian Crook currently looks after reserve team affairs, while Ricky Martin oversees the club's Academy.

Holt was a Nigel Worthington signing back in 2001, joining from Kilmarnock for �100,000 and making 183 appearances in a yellow shirt, scoring three goals and putting in a man of the match performance in City's Division One play-off final defeat on penalties to Birmingham City in 2002 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

He left for Nottingham Forest in 2005, where he spent two seasons before helping Wycombe to win promotion from League One last season.