Former-Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has been appointed as the new manager of Crystal Palace and he has promised fans that he will keep them in the Premier League.
The newly-promoted side have been without a manager since late October and their co-owner Steve Parish admitted that their search took longer than first expected, but now they have chosen Pulis, who has been out of a job since the Summer, when he was released by Stoke City.
Palace are currently 19th in the league and are three points from safety after losing nine out of their first 12 games.
However, Pulis has promised that he will keep them in the top-flight, despite their dreadful start.
“Everyone expects us to get relegated and it will be nice to prove people wrong,” said Pulis.
“I like climbing hills and this will be a tough job but one I will relish.”
“What people don’t talk about with my record is that I’ve been promoted from every division and got to the Cup final and last 32 of Europe,” he said.
“You do get pigeonholed for things and people say I’ve not been relegated but I’ve won promotions and have been very successful.”
“I’ve spoken to [chairman] Steve Parish, we have six games before Christmas before the window opens and then there is an opportunity to wheel and deal,” he said.
“We need to look at January and certainly will. I know what it takes and hopefully I won’t put this football club in the wrong way. They have to be done in the right way.”
As for Parish, the co-owner, he admitted that it took longer than first thought, but they are glad that they took their time.
He said: “Did it take so long? What’s the right time? If you are hiring a manager for two or three years you need to get it right.
“I was not expecting Ian to go and we needed to think about the right thing. We all want to stay in this division but you need to get the right manager to take the club back up as well.
“I don’t know Tony but just to bring someone in I’ve met for half an hour would be stupid. Our direction needs to be right. I don’t care if anyone says it is too long, I don’t work to their timescales. We’re pleased with the outcome.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles
