Administrator disappointed at lack of January sales

By djones

by Daniel Jones

THE administrator running Crystal Palace has admitted that he was disappointed that more Eagles players didn't leave the club before the transfer window closed yesterday.

The talk of a fire-sale of Palace stars never materialised as only Victor Moses departed Selhurst Park on deadline day, joining Wigan for £2.5million.

Brendan Guilfoyle, of P & A Partnership who have been running the club since the Eagles were plunged into administration last Tuesday, said that he was hoping to recoup more finances from transfers but the offers didn't come in.

Young full back Nathaniel Clyne refused to enter talks with Wolves despite the Premier League club having a bid accepted, while only one other Palace player attracted solid interest.

"Disappointment is a bit of an understatement," said Guilfoyle. "In total we had four offers for Victor, one offer for Nathaniel and one offer for one other player but WMG (football agents Wasserman Media Group) advised that it wasn't worthy of consideration.

"Yes I wanted to raise more money in the window, but I suppose the fans will be delighted."

Guilfoyle also revealed that Palace had to work hard to get the price they did for Moses.

"There were four offers on Moses in total, three Championship clubs had flat-lined at £1.5million. But I got WMG involved and we got £2.5m. We can all have a view of what players are worth, but they are only worth what people are prepared to buy them for. We scoured the market. I had two agents on it."

Guilfoyle admitted there was a possibility that more players will go once the loan market opens, but is hopeful that he will have a buyer interested in taking over the club by then.

"I can loan players out with a view to reducing the wage bill and that's a possibility," he said. "The loan window opens again in a week or so and I'll be talking to the agents. But hopefully I'll be talking to a purchaser too, who will be telling me 'no don't loan him out, I want to keep him.'

"We would like to retain the brand in the Championship and there's certainly no reason why that shouldn't be the case now."