Originally posted by daneagle in the thread about Speroni being offered a contract, but this deserves better exposure given the content.

Some great teasers into what is in the pipeline.

[Link]

Below are the Cliff Notes for Seth (and anyone else who has PC gremlins). It's not direct quotes, and doesn't portray SP's enthusiasm, mannerisms and such. If you can, it's well worth a listen.

- Always thought we'd turn it around. Knew it would be a struggle, but never doubted the possibility.

- Underestimated the off the field stuff when we came up. A lot of work to do.

- Knew the squad was thin, but couldn't look to buy players until we knew what we has to spend. Highlights the signings of Hennessey and Ince that helped add friendly competition in the squad. Ince signing in particular gave everyone a lift; helped highlight our ambition.

- SP didn't approach IH after the Fulham game; IH asked for him. IH said he couldn't do it, players weren't responding etc. SP hoped he would sleep it off.

- Plenty of potential managers lacked belief, and stated they should be planning for next season in the Championship.

- Had initial hesitations and concerns about TP's style of football, but admits that was ignorant. Doubted if we had the players needed for a Pulis team when considering managers. Looked at the foreign manager route for the ideal football route, but doubted if we had the players for that too. The hunt for a manager just helped contextualise TP and how he would fit in the club.

- Dougie was always good at managing the management. TP takes this to another level, has "tentacles out into the first team". Takes everyone's opinion on board. Everyone is pulling in the same direction, which is a great asset for a club without the bank balance of some of the teams in the division.

- Ultimately, SP feels TP has managed to create a "Classic Palace side".

- Obviously, things have gone beyond expectation.

- Need to add quality, and the right characters to fit the dressing room. Will try and give TP as much money and resources as possible for players, with little room for mistakes.

- Feels what we got in both transfers windows was ultimately good value for money, despite the mistakes. They tried to spread the cost across the squad to help the depth.

- Chamakh is on reasonable money.

- Puncheon didn't cost us anything near what was quoted. His contract was the biggest risk they took, because it was difficult to add in a relegation clause given his contract at Southampton. This was always manageable and budgeted for though.

- Puncheon, as soon as he signed on loan, bought himself a box for his family. "No one buys a box for their family to play badly".

- Feels Scott Dann was a pivotal signing. All TP's doing (he tried to sign him at Stoke). References that some other clubs that look they are going down have spent a lot more (Cardiff and Caulker?), so it's excellent value.

- Speroni will be offered a contract, no doubt, and he player has known that for a while.

- Didn't want to discuss player's contracts until we were safe. Would be a distraction, and will be looked at after the season ends. Also highlights that every player starts with a blank slate under a new manager.

- SP's Player of the Season: Puncheon.

- SP's Goal of the Season: Gayle Vs Villa.

- Gayle has grown as a person since joining; "...different lad to the kid that walked through the door." Apologises for the pressure and expectation out on Gayle, and says that it wasn't fair. TP is looking forward to working with him properly preseason.

- Hull/Villa was the turning point of the season. TP was sat next to him at the Hull game and said he result was "massive".

- Stadium Stuff. Crystal Palace Park is pretty dead in the water, unless someone on the council shows some enthusiasm. Best thing is to develop Selhurst Park. Would like 35k capacity. Whitehorse and Main Stand most likely to achieve this. Will not be the Arthur, because of how many it holds. They have a good dialogue with Sainburys going, so it's looking like the plan is to add a second tier to the Whitehorse. No work can be done close season. Build on what we have, fans over the pitch etc, no concrete/steel bowl; be a bit different.

- Crystal Palace Park is a possibility in10/15/20 years. By then, her new Crystal Palace MAY be there, so a lot of the things like traffic, infrastructure etc would be already in place. Internally, they talk that this will be the next owners problem.

- Talks about creating a legacy for the next 100 years. Mentions young/new fans and their importance.

- Work to be done. Undersoil heating and better drainage. Half a meter dug out, costs about £1 million. They've previously been spending £150k a season on the pitch. Old groundskeeper has left. New gates, new signage on the Main Stand, and bury the cables that hang between the stands (he jokes that it has taken them 2 years to find out what the cables do and where they go!). Also finish the media centre. When asked if this is under the Holmesdale, he says...

- ...something unannounced is in the pipeline for under the Holmesdale. Not 100%.

- Stephenson will host dinners and such, rather than outsourcing to a hotel. Compel looked at too regarding general improvements.

- Ideas to relive pressure on the AW concourse, home and away.

- Incredible and fantastic fans, but if he has one criticism it's that there should be a touch more expectation or sense of belonging. Doesn't want us seeing it as a holiday, and that it is hard to break the natural order of things. Can't let nervousness or negativity hold us back. Break the cycle and create a new reality.

- Season Ticket sales nearing 15k. Feels it's important to have seats for casual fans, because not everyone can come week in week out.

- Looking at marketing abroad.

- Looking at how the club's media content is handled (new website?)

- New Kit to be shown at the Player of the Season dinner. 99%.

- Club needs to institutionalised to the point where it doesn't matter who is in charge or who is the manager. Mainly in terms of organisation structure and identity.

- Eddie Izzard rang SB and said he wanted to do something for the club (comedy night). A lot of celebrity fans have been in touch; great to see people getting back into touch with the area and club.

- Next season; Need to be realistic, as we excelled this year. Finish as high as possible obviously, but talks that him and TP will try and configure the team to be able to go on a cup run. Feels glory is important, and that it would be great to be in a cup final again. May not be next year, but definitely something they want to build towards.

Edited by Leicestershireeagle (01 May 2014 1.46pm)

RED AND BLUE ARMY!

Listening now, this is great. Feel so lucky to have such an honest, no-bulls*** chairman. Imagine Mike Ashley doing this! In fact I'm struggling to think of anyone else who would.

Well worth putting aside 45 minutes to listen to this.

Really great interview. When you hear Steve Parish talk about the club you know he deeply cares and we are in safe hands.

Thanks CPFC2010

The ups and downs of Palace have left me older than my years

Fantastic 45 minutes. You can tell how proud he is of everyone connected with the club.