HOLDSWORTH BOLTS HOME

Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce admitted that he was prepared to let the former Wimbledon star depart for only a fraction of the £3.5 million that the club paid for him.

Holdsworth has never really re-discovered the form that made him a fan-favourite at Selhurst Park since his move to Lancashire - after Colin Todd splashed out a club record fee for the marksman.

Allardyce said: "Deano would like to move back to London to be with his family and, if we can, we will sort that out. There is one way he can do himself a favour and that is to get himself fit, and score goals.

Holdsworth, who still has a year and a half to run on his contract, admitted he was unsettled: "It has been difficult for me to be away from my family."

Meanwhile, Mike Whitlow has rejected the offer of a new contract, meaning he will be free to leave Wanderers at the end of the current campaign.

Patrick Goss