Moses withdrawal explained

Moses: Key to Palace's future

Frankly, the future of the club could depend on the success of the sale and I couldn't sleep on the prospect that Moses may be injured in the game tonight

Brendan Guilfoyle
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Crystal Palace's administrators insist Victor Moses had to be omitted from the game against Newcastle United because the club's future hinges on the sale of the striker.

Joint administrator Brendan Guilfoyle has revealed the risk of losing Palace's prized asset to injury during the January transfer window is too high for the 19-year-old to be selected for the trip to St James' Park.

Moses looks certain to have played his last game for the Eagles and is set leave the cash-strapped club before Monday's transfer deadline after the Championship outfit went into administration on Tuesday and will now incur a 10-point deduction following their failure to secure new investment.

"I've had a conversation with Neil Warnock explaining my desire to secure large amounts of funding to take this club forward and a key option in realising that is the possible sale of Victor Moses," Guilfoyle told Sky Sports.

Unthinkable

"I told the manager that it was my decision that Mr Moses was not available for selection - he's very unhappy about that but accepted it was my call and took the instructions.

"Frankly, the future of the club could depend on the success of the sale and I couldn't sleep on the prospect that Moses may be injured in the game tonight.

"My agents are scouring the markets and they have advised me there is a lot of interest in the player and the sums involved will run to millions and the prospect of jeopardising the possible sale by that player being injured is unthinkable.

"Hopefully Palace fans will understand that - we are talking about the future of the club over a long period of time - not just one game."