Solid pro who's performances and character has helped get us to where we are today. Cheers Martin I'm sure there'll be a team in the championship looking for experience.

Ditto

One more point

That's your opinion and you're entitled to it!

He's been a reliable left back but more importantly, when called upon a solid squad member for eight seasons. Scored the goal at Spurs to take us on to Wembley.

Edited by Henry of Peckham (23 May 2022 3.09pm)

Denial is not just a river in Egypt

Whilst i wish Kelly well i think you need to take the rose tinted glasses off. Yes, i agree that he was a decent performer in his first few years at the club i think it needs to be said he was pretty awful at LB, although in his defence he was clearly being played out of position.

I think he was a solid squad player for the first 5 seasons with us, the last 2 or 3 due to injury and lack of ability he has barely played.

Yesterday with 2 CBs missing he couldn't even get minutes in his best position. I think that speak volumes.

I thought he was a really brave player. Never ducked a challenge and was always in the thick of things when we we were on the ropes. As I recall , he was Pulis’ last signing but never played under him. I should have thought he could still do well at a Premier club.

One of the things Parish and Dougie have frequently pointed out is that in their recruitment (the transfer market), they look at the character as well as the talent of a player; personalities that will fit in with the club's ethos and add something as well as technical skill on the pitch. This approach seems to have served them well and it's been executed with considerable success, something I suspect a lot of other clubs overlook in their quest for so-called big names. It's another feather in Parish and Dougie's cap.

What it's given us at the bottom of the squad has been a core of players who've really added a lot without playing a lot. Rather than moan about their limited opportunities, it seems to me that the likes of Kelly and Jairo, for example, have really knuckled down to their given roles, added to the group, helped the kids develop, and been valuable employees. Sure, nice work for the millions they're paid but that's being overly cynical. Players like Kelly and Jairo may be easily replaced but their personalities and contribution to the club less easily so. While they've not been so important to the team, it's a squad game and they've been really important to the squad.

Thanks, Kells. You'll be missed.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.