August 26 2004

Iain Dowie

Iain Dowie has admitted he will have to off-load some of last season's squad to make way for more new signings, by Joseph O'Shea.

Having signed eight players this summer, with at least three more targeted before the transfer window closes next week, Dowie is preparing to wield the axe on some of his play-off heroes.

He said: "We knew what we had last year and we were a very tight unit.

"I am very close to the players but it is a more difficult environment now. As long as we keep bringing players in we will not have the same players in the team.

"There will be some people who leave the club because they will not be able to play, I am sure of it. They will want to go and play football."

Once the Premiership window closes, Palace will consider offers from the Championship for players who have been on the fringes of Dowie’s squads like Tommy Black, Gareth Williams and goalkeeper Cedric Berthelin. But there could be more high-profile casualties depending who signs for the Eagles this week.

He added: "Harsh as it is, I have got to make some hard decisions."

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