September 13 2013

Selhurst Park (Photo: Andy Roberts)

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has hit back at comments made by defender Florian Marange.

Marange was gutted to miss out on the Premier League 25 man squad and told the French media earlier this week: "I'm disgusted.

"If I had known this rule, I would have a clause in my contract. But my advisor did not tell me and now I am told that it is almost my fault.

"We lost [at Bristol City] but I was not at fault for the two goals. I have only had seven or eight training sessions. How can you judge a player after 10 days?"

However Holloway has questioned Marange's pace: "I didn't want his family coming over here if he wasn't exactly the player we thought he was going to be."

"It's as simple as that. I needed some pace in that backline and he hasn't got it.

"We brought him in during pre-season, I have had a look at his record and thought he would be fine, but in two games he didn't look quick enough. If he doesn't like it, I can't help that.

"His agent knew three or four days before the window shut. So he could have got him a French club, so why didn't he?"

Holloway has also revealed that OWEN GARVAN was close to being in the 25-man squad but a conversation a week before the selection deadline made him miss out on a place.

"In fact if it wasn't for a conversation we had the week before, because he wasn't going to be in the starting XI, he would have been in my 25.

"He made it totally clear to me that he didn't want to be in the 25 if he wasn't starting almost every week. I couldn't guarantee him that."