June 2 2004

Crystal Palace

After helping Crystal Palace reach the Premiership on Saturday, on-loan goalkeeper Nico Vaesen is hoping the club will sign him from Birmingham on a permanent basis, by Joseph O'Shea.

The 33-year-old has kept six clean sheets in 13 games since joining Palace in March, and hopes the two clubs can now agree a deal. Steve Bruce has offered him a new two year deal at St Andrews where he is second choice behind Maik Taylor.

He told the Guardian: "I would love to play in the Premiership whether it’s with Palace or with Birmingham. I don’t know yet.

"I am really happy at Birmingham but I won’t be starting as number one there. I am here now and I enjoyed it so it’s up to the gaffer (Dowie) to make a decision.

"I have to talk to Birmingham because they have offered me a good contract for two years and it’s just a matter of putting pen to paper. It is up to Crystal Palace to negotiate with them."

The Belgian stopper made two memorable saves from Steve Lomas and Bobby Zamora on Saturday, to cap a match-winning semi-final performance where he saved two spot kicks to send the Eagles through.

He admits leaving his new team-mates would be hard. He added: "It would definitely be hard for me to leave the boys because I have great memories of my time here.

"It has been a great couple of months and I hope I can be a part of it in the Premiership, but if I can’t I wish them all the best next year. It is something which will have to be sorted out in the next couple of weeks."

If Palace and Birmingham cannot agree a fee, Sunderland’s Thomas Myhre, who also spent three months on loan at Selhurst Park this season, is still hoping Dowie will sign him.