March 25 2004

Darren Powell

Iain Dowie is winning his battle to keep defender Darren Powell, but Mark Hudson will return to Fulham when his loan expires after the Easter Monday West Ham clash, by Joseph O'Shea.

Two weeks ago Steve Coppell's Reading revealed they had agreed a fee in the region of £200,000 for Powell, but that a persistent thigh injury had held up the deal.

The 27-year-old defender, signed from Brentford by Trevor Francis for £400,000 in August 2002, proved an instant hit making 46 appearances.

Injury has restricted him to nine appearances this term, but after four months out he is back in training, and his manager is eager to keep him.

Dowie said: "It was all speculation. I have never seen him play and as far as I am concerned Darren is not going anywhere. It is not fair on the lad and he won’t be fit before the transfer deadline (on Thursday) anyway.

"He’s a very valuable member of the squad and I am looking forward to him getting fit and getting back in the team as soon as possible."

Palace currently have five centre backs in recent £155,000 signing Mikele Leigertwood, Kit Symons, Tony Popovic, Powell and Fulham loanee Mark Hudson.

The three month loan deal expires on Easter Monday, and Chris Coleman is unwilling to let 20-year-old Hudson go on a permanent deal.

Dowie said: "Mark will go back in April which is a blow to us because he’s a good player. Fulham don’t want to let him go, but we might revisit it.

"I think the lad would like to stay. He has improved as a player here."

Dowie was told he could keep Powell in a budget meeting with chairman Simon Jordan on Monday night.

He said: "Tony Popovic is out of contract and if we can’t come to an agreement where are we going to get a centre half? If we let Darren go and Mark Hudson goes back, we are left with Mikele and Kit which is not strong enough for the rigours of the First Division when other sides are investing around us."

The chairman is willing to back Dowie with money for the right signings like the loan deal which brought 34-year-old Belgian keeper Nico Vaesen from Birmingham last week.

Dowie said: "It’s good that we have got another keeper in. There’s one or two issues I have got in the fire for the summer, but Nico’s in the box seat now. He’s out-of-contract so he’s got every chance of becoming our keeper for the future. That’s what he’s come for."

Although there was no discussion of an extension to Dowie's own 18 month contract, the Palace boss was pleased that he would have the funds to build his own squad.

He quipped: "He (Jordan) has been as good as gold but he balked when I said I needed ten million!"

"He thinks we are going in the right direction and there may be an opportunity to buy one or two players if we have to. There’s one or two that I’m looking at.

"There is some money to spend in the summer. He has been very positive in his backing but finances aren’t what they were at the club."

Live Croydon Guardian text commentary