August 7 2001

Steve Kember

Assistant manager Steve Kember considered quitting Crystal Palace when he was told he would not get the manager's job.

Kember took over from Alan Smith two games before the end of last season and led the club to the two away victories needed to preserve their First Division status.

He was on the verge of leaving the club until former Manchester United captain Steve Bruce was appointed manager by chairman Simon Jordan.

Kember said: "The chairman said he wanted to keep his options open at the end of the season. He told me he wanted me to be a part of things but he was not sure in what role.

"I actually felt after a certain length of time I was not going to get it. When he phoned me to say would I work alongside someone else I told him it depended who that person was.

"When I found out it was Steve I spent a day-and-a-half chatting to him and I'm happy with the way things panned out.

"When the club employed Steve it was on the provision I would be his assistant."

Once before, in 1981, Kember was overlooked for the manager's job after taking over as a caretaker following the departure of Dario Gradi.

Then chairman Ron Noades appointed Alan Mullery as boss and Kember left football for five years before returning to the club as reserve team coach and chief scout.