New Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert told supporters on Wednesday he will give “everything I’ve got to be successful” and said he will thrive on high expectations for the Premier League club that narrowly avoided relegation from the top tier of English football last season.

Lambert was appointed by Villa’s American owner Randy Lerner to replace Alex McLeish, who was fired last month. The 42-year-old Lambert had been at Norwich for two years and steered the club back into the Premier League.

Norwich finished 12th this past season, four places higher than Villa.

“We will try to get results as quickly and as best as we can,” Lambert told a news conference Wednesday.

“There is a lot of expectancy at the club and it is not something I’m going to shy away from,” Lambert said. “It something I will thrive on, hopefully.”

Lambert, a former Scotland and Celtic midfielder, started his managerial career at Livingston before moving to England, where he worked his way through the lower leagues with Wycombe and Colchester before transforming Norwich’s fortunes.

“I had three unbelievable years,” Lambert said, praising Norwich players and fans. “I will always be proud of what we have done as a group. It’s part of my life that will stay with me.”

Speaking of the new gig, Lambert said: “I can’t wait to get going, truth be told … It is a huge, huge club, and it is something I will need to embrace more than anybody.”

Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner said the club will support Lambert in his quest to improve its performance next season, including by getting new players.

“We know we have got to work with Paul and freshen up the squad,” Faulkner said. ”We had a poor season and we have got to get to work.”