September 30 2008

Mark Hudson

Neil Warnock has fired a broadside at ex-Crystal Palace defender Mark Hudson for the way he engineered his move to Charlton.

Hudson signed for Palace's local rivals on a free transfer in the summer after turning down a fresh deal with the Eagles.

It angered Warnock who reckons Hudson should have been more honest about the transfer considering he was Palace's club captain.

"I think Mark could have told us earlier," said Warnock. "That was a disappointment for me since he was my captain. A captain and his manager should be close-knit. I was disappointed in Mark but life moves on.

"I think he owed it to me, having made him captain, that he should have confided in me that he would be definitely going. Instead I got a phone call from Alan Pardew telling me he was definitely leaving.

"You can’t blame Mark. His contract was up and they offered him major money. They doubled or even trebled it.

"He has got to look after his family. That’s how life is but I think it could have been handled differently."

Palace host Charlton in the first South London derby of the season on Tuesday night and Warnock has spoken of his respect for Addicks boss Pardew.

He said: "I know Alan well. I nearly sent him off in a charity match the other day. He did a bad tackle. I had to give him a severe reprimand. I like Alan.

"I see him socially and with our families. Everyone knows about the managers I don’t get on with but Alan’s not one of those. We’ve had our rows but we soon put them to bed.

"You don’t need any motivation against Charlton. It’s a cracking match. It’s my first one at home. You go to the Valley and it’s difficult and I expect we’ll make it difficult for them here. That’s how rivalries are.

"Charlton will expect to come and take maximum points because of our position and quite rightly so."