Thursday 1 January 2015 20:05, UK
Keith Millen revealed Crystal Palace's prospective new manager Alan Pardew is pleased with the backroom team at the club, despite reports of unresolved issues regarding members of his current staff.
Keith Millen expects the 53-year-old to be named the south London club’s new manager by Friday after Palace agreed compensation with Newcastle and opened talks for their former midfielder.
But there were issues regarding performance analyst Ben Stevens and goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman, who Pardew worked with at Newcastle.
However, Millen remains adamant that Pardew is happy with the set-up at the club as he watched from the stands as the struggling Eagles ground out a goalless draw against Aston Villa for their eighth successive match without a win.
"(Pardew spoke to me) briefly before the game and he seems pleased with the staff," caretaker-manager Millen told Sky Sports. "He spoke to the chairman and knows that we all work hard for the club and want to be successful.
We are preparing for Alan (Pardew) to come in tomorrow to start working. We have a big game against Dover on Sunday so we have to get our heads around that one
"At the moment he seems happy with the staff that are here and we continue working. I'm sure as the weeks go by Alan will assess what we do and add things, which is great for ourselves and then if he feels he needs to bring someone in then I'm sure he will. At the moment, he's happy with what's he's seen."
Millen, caretaker manager since Neil Warnock was sacked last month, is just waiting for Pardew's appointment to be rubber-stamped.
When asked in the post-match press conference if all was on track, he said: "I think so, I don't think he would have been at the game if there was a problem, he wouldn't have been sitting in the stands.
"We are preparing for Alan to come in tomorrow (Friday) to start working. We have a big game against Dover on Sunday so we have to get our heads around that one.
"I kept the lads in the know from what I knew from the chairman. Before the game when we left the hotel we weren't sure but then I got a message to say Alan was coming.
"He didn't have any input during the game or before but he came in after and was pleased and proud with what he saw.
"He said we need to add more to our game to score more goals and win football matches but it's a good start for Alan to see us."
Millen also feels he is handing over a side that is capable of surviving relegation from the Premier League, saying: "Oh, without a doubt. We've been here before, that's the beauty of this group. We know we can do it and we've been bottom of the league last January, so we managed to bounce back from that.
"You can see the effort and commitment this group have got and if we add one or two players to help improve us with Alan's knowledge and know-how, hopefully we can create more chances and score more goals.
"Alan's got the experience and has got a great record as a manager so it's a different voice which benefits the group.
"We know what we're good at as a group the last couple of years, but if someone can come in and add another dimension to it then we're going to be a better side.
"We're looking forward to working with him – I am and the players are."
