February 12 2004

Kit Symons

Former caretaker manager KIT SYMONS is being groomed as Iain Dowie's new number two at Crystal Palace, by Joe O'Shea.

SYMONS, 32, was not named in Saturday's squad to face Sheffield United, but could be seen alongside Dowie shouting instructions from the dug out during the 3-0 win.

The former Fulham defender enjoyed a successful temporary spell in charge in December, taking 12 points from a possible 24, before chairman Simon Jordan gave Dowie the job.

With SYMONS in the last year of his contract, the recent signings of Mikele Leigertwood and Mark Hudson on loan, pointed to the exit, but Dowie is considering extending his stay, possibly in a player-coach role.

Dowie said: "KIT’s been more involved alongside me lately and will continue to do that. I like him. It would have been easy for him to be awkward, but he has got great professional standards, so we did the game together on Saturday.

"I’m a very hands-on manager and I don’t rely heavily on a number two. But I can see a role developing for KIT. He’s doing his (UEFA coaching) badges which I will help him with and we will roll with it for a couple of weeks and see how we go."

The sight of one of his players shouting instructions from the dugout might irk some managers but not Dowie.

He said: "I like what he had to say on Saturday. He has got good passion and enthusiasm and I want him to have his say. I am not worried about him jumping and shouting in front of me, I enjoyed it and he enjoyed it."

But he is not ready for the Welsh international to hang up his boots just yet.

Dowie added: "He will also play. First and foremost he wants to play, but that’s my decision."

Live Croydon Guardian text commentary