Friday 22 August 2014 07:26, UK
Keith Millen has revealed that he will take responsibility for bringing new players to Crystal Palace following the resignation of Iain Moody.
Millen, who will continue as Palace's caretaker manager for Saturday's visit of West Ham, is aware of the importance of strengthening the squad before the transfer window closes in less than two weeks.
Moody relinquished his role as sporting director amid an FA investigation into allegations of racist, sexist and homophobic text messages he exchanged with Malky Mackay when the pair worked together at Cardiff City.
Mackay had looked set to succeed Tony Pulis as permanent manager at Selhurst Park, but he was taken out of the running when Cardiff handed the FA a dossier of evidence.
One of Moody's main objectives was to scout and recruit new players, but Millen is now determined to take charge of that area before Palace run out of time.
"It will go through me really now," said Millen when asked about Palace's transfer plans. "I've asked the scouting department to have a meeting with me today, to discuss the names that we feel we can bring in.
"I'll speak to the chairman then.
"The process has got to be ongoing, and if we do appoint a manager, we can say 'this is what's out there, this is what we think we need', and then hopefully it will be the new manager's final decision."
Pulis signed Martin Kelly, Fraizer Campbell and Brede Hangeland before he parted company with the club on the eve of the new season, and Millen admitted Palace cannot afford to wait for the new manager to call the shots on transfers, even if the club now force through a quick appointment.
"That's where the rush is, not the panic," he said. "We do need to bring in some players, the days are counting down.
"That's why it's important we do our homework, as we have done all summer, and try to continue with a list of names, that we feel will continue and enhance what we're doing.
"I think it's maybe two or three. We've got a decent squad here, we haven't got to add to the squad, it's just two or three more that add real competition to the starting XI.
"So it's not a major change, all the new signings played last week and did well.
"I think we are better than last year, but I think we've still got to improve a bit more."
