Claridge is a pundit for The Football League Show and Football Focus

Norwich have rocketed to the summit of the League One table with a superb run in recent weeks and, with 64 goals, they are also the highest goalscorers in the Football League.

This week, I look at their promotion and title hopes and also consider whether Leeds United's impressive FA Cup run has affected their league form.

I also look at whether mergers could help some clubs stay out of financial trouble, offer my views on Peter Ridsdale's problems at Cardiff and on the international credentials of Nottingham Forest's Lee Camp and Newcastle's Steve Harper.

If you have a question for me, you can submit it through Twitter at http://twitter.com/AskClaridge or use the form on the top right of the page.

In November you said that Leeds were certain to win League One. After Norwich's continued superb run are you still so certain?
Martyn Francis on Twitter

Over the course of the season you have call it as you see it and I did not see a run like this coming from Norwich - I'm not sure anyone did!

Norwich 2-1 Hartlepool

But if I said that about Leeds - and, by the way, no they aren't certainties to win that division any more - I also said that Norwich had got a good manager when Paul Lambert took charge.

Lambert is benefitting from the fact that Norwich got rid of Bryan Gunn so early in the season. They made the decision with this in mind - to give the new man as much time as possible to turn things around and he has done very well.

I've watched them a couple of times and I've been impressed. In Grant Holt, Chris Martin and Wes Hoolahan, they have got three players who are just scoring goals for fun.

They also have a fantastic loyal support, an excellent manager and a good team - so it has all come together for them.

I would still go for Leeds to win the title, but I wouldn't put my last £5 on them! I think the mark of the progress Norwich have made is that, six weeks ago, you would have put your mortgage on Leeds finishing top.

I'm not sure I go along with the theory that Leeds have been distracted too much by their success in the FA Cup either. OK, they drew at Tottenham and got thumped at Swindon but your form doesn't go up and down like that just because of a Cup run. I think the Jermaine Beckford situation played its part too before he said he was staying for the rest of the season.

Everybody is due a little blip and they got back on track on Saturday by beating a very good Colchester side, although I'm slightly surprised they haven't been more active in the transfer market with all the money they have raised from their Cup runs.

Leeds 2-0 Colchester

I do think those two will get the automatic promotion spots. I've never been totally convinced by Charlton - I've only seen them three times - against Oldham, Northwich and Leyton Orient - but they've been awful every time so I guess I must be a bit of a jinx to them - they will be hoping I stay away for the rest of the season!

From their results, Charlton are obviously a lot better than I've seen but I do think that, out of the three up there, they are the ones that will miss out on going straight up.

With clubs such as Crystal Palace, Stockport and Portsmouth being in financial trouble is it time for some clubs to merge and try and survive that way? Obviously the fans would be against it but is there any other way for them to survive for the next 10 to 15 years?
Jonathan Hind, UK

I don't think merging clubs will actually help them that much.

It sounds great on paper but, if clubs like Portsmouth can get into trouble, then is it really going to make too much difference if the likes of Stockport and Bury merge? That won't stop them getting into trouble will it?

And you could merge 50 clubs together because it doesn't matter how big you are - if the people who are running you don't get it right then you will soon have problems.

The key for most clubs keeping their heads above the water is for their owners to handle unreal expectations from supporters and stand up to being pressured by them.

I understand that people's hearts rule their heads, that they just want the best for their clubs, but they just have to be strong and say no, even if it makes them unpopular or face accusations they are not ambitious.

Hi Steve, what do you make of the recent goings on at Cardiff City? Chairman Peter Ridsdale promoted a scheme where money made on season ticket sales before Christmas would be used to bring in new players to add much needed depth to our squad. After a stunning 6-0 victory over our rivals Bristol City he drops the bombshell that the money is no longer available as it is to be used to pay off other matters. Perfect timing - deliver bad news just after good news. We fans feel cheated by what he has done. Of course we would all rather the bills be paid than buy players if it means we stay in business, but the way he gained our money was disgraceful. What are your thoughts? The saving grace for me is that we are still in a good position in the Championship with a good chance of securing a place in the Premier League via the play-offs. Do you think we can make it to the promised land with what we have at our disposal?
Lee Jefferies, Wales

Peter Ridsdale has been looking for outside investment at Cardiff but it hasn't happened - I don't know why.

But what I do understand is that, after what happened at Leeds, people are always going to wary about him and he has made a huge mistake here by promising what he did.

I think where clubs fall down sometimes is with a lack of transparency. If there is nothing to hide then tell the fans - this is what we're paying out and this is what we're bringing in - and they will understand.

Most supporters of any club always think the worst but all they really want to know is where the club stands, what will happen and what they can do about it. But most of that is covered up.

Having the trust of the fans is a huge part of running a football club and Ridsdale has lost most, if not all of that, at Cardiff now.

Financially, we don't really know what is going on but, on the positive side, in every other way the club is in good nick. They have a super manager in Dave Jones and a marvellous ground with a great set of fans and a decent team.

They are fourth in the Championship so I am not convinced there was a great need to sign new players anyway - I cannot see them breaking into the top two. And if they stay where they are, that's still a fantastic season for them.

The fun thing with them is that nobody knows what they are capable of - they can beat anybody and lose to anybody. There is never a dull moment but there are a lot of clubs who would happily swap places with them and they are looking very good for a play-off place.

You mentioned West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson last week, but what about Lee Camp? Nottingham Forest fans have all got him down as 'England's next number one' - he's only 23 and is currently playing fantastically. With a lack of English keepers in the Premier League, could he be in with a chance at this summer's World Cup as third choice?
Megan, UK

Certainly, if Lee was playing like he is now in the Premier League he would be knocking on the door but, as it is, it's a bit early to be talking about him in England terms.

Watch Lee Camp in action against Derby

I can't see England boss Fabio Capello taking any risks with goalkeepers before the World Cup and, no matter what you say, bringing Lee into the fold now would be a risk.

So it's a no for now but, in the future, who knows? He is playing brilliantly and he is in the right place at Nottingham Forest, who are having a great year.

Lee could well be playing in the top flight next season and if he continues to play the same way there then it won't take him long to get noticed. Good players in the Championship can be good players in the Premier League too.

Given the uncertainty regarding England's goalkeeping position, would Steve Harper be a 'safe' squad choice?
Allan Fraser, UK

No. He's done fine for Newcastle this season and he's a good Championship goalkeeper but that's all. I think we all know that Steve is a good goalkeeper but he is not international class.

Steve Harper keeps a clean sheet against Leicester

He has waited for his chance at Newcastle when he could have moved on and he has got it now. How much did not playing for long periods affect his development? I don't know. But he's 34 now and I think he was getting to the point where enough was enough - he had to start playing regularly.

Sitting on the bench was never for me - I always wanted to go where I could play. But it is slightly different for goalkeepers, with it being a specialist position, and I can understand it a little bit more than with outfield players.

Steve Claridge is a BBC Football League pundit who played more than 800 matches for 15 clubs over the course of a 24-year playing career. He was talking to Chris Bevan.

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