Crystal Palace

Warnock hails Palace team spirit
Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock has praised the team spirit at Selhurst Park after they extended their unbeaten run to 10 games at Watford. Warnock told SSB: "If the season ended tomorrow I couldn't have a go at the players." And he claimed he did not know the secret to his success, saying: "If managers knew that they would be very wealthy men wouldn't they?" "We try and get the team ethic and at the moment the team ethic is spot on." Crystal Palace last suffered defeat in February at Wolverhampton Wanderers and are now being viewed warily by the other play-off contenders in the Championship. 'Not carried away' Next stop for Warnock's team is Hull City who were defeated for the first time in seven games at Sheffield United at the weekend. Warnock told SSB his players would not get carried away. "We're not a team that takes its eye off the ball. If Hull beat us, they'll beat us because they're better than us," he said. Hull are 3rd in the table but are only four points above the Eagles, who have a three point gap to Ipswich in 7th place. Defender Matt Lawrence may be doubtful for the Hull game after he withdrew against Watford after just 20 minutes. But Palace have been boosted by the goal-scoring return of midfielder Paul Ifill and the news that striker James Scowcroft is back in training.

Warnock hails biggest achievement
Boss Neil Warnock said taking Crystal Palace to the Championship play-offs was the "biggest achievement" of his career after the 5-0 win over Burnley. The former Sheffield United manager has guided the Eagles from second from bottom to fifth place in six months. "I can't think of a better achievement in my career, it's a great effort from all the lads," said Warnock. "We have a 25% chance, let's see what happens. I've won six promotions in my career - but my lucky number is seven." The 58-year-old has never lost a play-off semi-final in a 22-year career which has seen him win promotion with Notts County, Plymouth, Huddersfield, Scarborough and Sheffield United. But Warnock revealed there is no set pattern to winning play-off matches. "I've never lost at Wembley," he said. "I've taken teams who finished 18 points clear and won and took teams that snuck in on the last day and won so there is no formula. "You don't have to win the first game and over the two games the best team normally wins." Warnock hailed the performance of his young squad to take the south-east London club in distance of a return to the Premier League. "We haven't spent much money and brought the kids through as no one wanted to play for us so it's remarkable," he said. "In your wildest dreams you don't expect to score five but we've been positive all week and I haven't felt any pressure."

Jordan will quit Palace next year
Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has revealed he intends to sell the Championship club. Jordan, who bought Palace out of administration in 2000, says he has grown disillusioned with the game. The Palace chairman decided to quit after a Football League tribunal awarded the club just £700,000 following John Bostock's move to Spurs. "Without a shadow of a doubt, this is my last year. I've taken the club as far as I can," Jordan said. "It's my specific intention to find a buyer this season. I will do nothing to affect manager Neil Warnock and I will be absolutely committed to the club and I will find a responsible buyer. "I am not de-motivated by the team, manager or fans. But I have been disillusioned with football for a long time. "I kept my sanity by pumping millions of pounds into my academy, feeling the saving grace of my club was finding players who would be chomping at the bit and honoured to play in the first team but that's been taken away from me as well. "Bostock was one of the best players my academy has produced in the last 10 years and he has been sold for a packet of crisps."

Eagles have bid for Lee accepted
Ipswich Town have accepted an undisclosed bid from Crystal Palace for striker Alan Lee. The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international will have a medical and discuss personal terms with the Eagles. Town chief executive Derek Bowden told the club website: "He is speaking to them about personal terms. As far as I'm aware they've not been agreed yet." Lee joined Ipswich in January 2006 and has scored 34 goals in 109 games, including 12 strikes last season.

Warnock buries hatchet with Kuqi
Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock has decided to bury the hatchet with striker Shefki Kuqi. Kuqi was transfer-listed after making a crude gesture to Palace fans during the home defeat by Wolves last season. But Warnock told London 94.9: "He's had a difficult time but, quite right, he can't do what he did. "He's had five months in the wilderness. But needs must so I said 'I'm game if you are. Let's put things behind us and play it by ear'." The Finland international scored in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest but there are no guarantees he will be starting in Crystal Palace's next game against Barnsley. Warnock expects to have Alan Lee and James Scowcroft back to full fitness after the international break to broaden his options up front.

Palace extend Beattie loan deal
Crystal Palace have extended the loan of striker Craig Beattie from West Bromwich Albion for two more months. The Scotland international striker, 24, has scored two goals during his seven-match stay so far and will remain at Selhurst Park until 28 December. Manager Neil Warnock told BBC London 94.9: "He's done well for us, he's turned our season round and I think there's a lot more to come from him. "I can relax now I know he is staying with us for another two months."

Palace sign new sponsorship deal
Crystal Palace have announced a new three-year sponsorship deal. Dubai Contracting Company will support the Eagles youth academy over the next three seasons, along with the stadium, and shirt branding until 2010/11. Crystal Palace chief executive Phil Alexander said: "It is a reflection of the global interest that clearly now exists in the Football League. "We look forward to working with DCC. I'm sure the relationship will strengthen even further." Alexander added: "This unique deal reflects the interest and levels exposure Crystal Palace can offer a multi-national organisation such as DCC." Palace's new sponsorship deal is for an undisclosed amount.

Kuqi will not take Palace pay cut
Crystal Palace striker Shefki Kuqi has rejected the chance to stay at Selhurst Park next season on a reduced contract. The Kosovo-born Finland international, 32, had been offered new terms after forcing his way back into the team. Manager Neil Warnock told London 94.9: "I asked if he'd take a drop in wages and sign for another 18 months but he doesn't really want to do that." Kuqi joined the Eagles in August 2006 in a £2.5m deal from Blackburn but has managed just 14 goals since. He struggled in his first season at the club under Peter Taylor, who saw the forward as a replacement for Andy Johnson who joined Everton the same year. Kuqi was loaned to Fulham on transfer deadline day in August 2007 but, having failed to score in his three months at Craven Cottage, returned to Palace only to fall out with Warnock after being substituted in the 2-0 defeat by Wolves in February last year. Warnock immediately sent Kuqi on loan to Ipswich for the rest of the season but, having failed to agree a permanent move to Portman Road, he was brought back into the side in September last year. Kuqi's six goals this season had convinced Warnock to offer him a new deal, but the striker turned it down when told it would have to be on less money than he had previously been paid. It is not known whether that offer has now been withdrawn. Meanwhile, Eagles goalkeeper David Wilkinson has joined Blue Square South side Welling United until the end of the season.

Hull City plan summer move for Crystal Palace's Danns
Hull City will make a renewed attempt to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Neil Danns at the end of the season. Danns, 28, is out of contract in the summer and head of football operations Adam Pearson told BBC Radio Humberside they were keen to sign him. "We were interested in Danns and he is someone we'll join the queue for to try and get," he said. "He is a free agent in the summer, is a goal-scoring midfielder and is a very good player." Meanwhile, Pearson also admitted an interest in 34-year old Fulham midfielder Jonathan Greening. "We were also interested in Greening when put a transfer request in," he added.

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