Latest in the Division

By Longsider
December 23 2003

With a new manager installed and a couple of players moving it hasn't been a quiet Christmas week for some clubs. A couple of the player's that have moved are former targets for the Clarets.

We start with the latest at Selhurst Park where Iain Dowie has become Crystal Palace's new manager. Dowie, who resigned from Oldham, replaces Kit Symons who had taken temporary charge since Steve Kember was sacked two months ago.

Dowie, like all other managers, had this to say about his new First Division club:-

"This is a very big football club which I was lucky enough to play for. I had a great time here," said Dowie. "This is the club I can come to and realise everything I want to in football.

Sleeping giant is an over-used phrase but this is a big football club which deserves to be at the top of the league and challenging in The Premiership. It is a huge task which I am excited about. It is a fresh, clean slate and every player has a fresh start to show me what they were brought to the club for in the first place.

It's not an easy job. Whatever happens, win or lose, fail or succeed, it won't be due to a lack of hard work or energy. I like a side full of work ethic but I also want to take a team on. Palace fans are used to being entertained and they were never not entertained at Oldham."

Palace's unrealistic chariman, Simon Jordan, want's to see a 60-70% improvement at the club which basically mean's Dowie will have to get the club into the play-offs or he'll be next to be forced out by Jordan.

On the transfer front, Bradford City have signed former Middlesbrough striker Alun Armstrong, on loan, until the end of January. Ipswich have said they will still listen to cash offers whilst he's with the Bantam's as he has no future in Suffolk.

Rotherham have missed out on Bryan Hughes from Birmingham. The midfielder was all set to go Millmoor before injuries to some of Steve Bruce's squad scuppered the deal. Ronnie Moore has said that he will review the situation again in the New Year and may move for the player then.

There has been no news around Turf Moor regarding the possibility of new signing's however it surely can't be long before we see a new goalkeeper arrive at the Turf.