March 20 2001

Crystal Palace

Charlton defender Steve Brown will not be coming to Selhurst Park in the summer as he has signed a new two-year contract with his club. Palace were hoping to sign the 28-year-old on a free at the end of this season.

Brown was out of contract this summer and Palace were looking to sign him on a Bosman, but the defender signed a new deal keeping him at The Valley until end of the 2002-03 season.

Wimbledon were also keen on signing Brown, who has played more than 250 games for Charlton Athletic but hasn't been able to get a place in the first team this season.

Meanwhile, striker CLINTON MORRISON is still wanted by the Republic of Ireland.

It is reported that Eire are desperate to add another striker to their squad for the games against Cyprus and Andorra.

Republic of Ireland assistant manager Ian Evans has admitted that he would love to see MORRISON in the Eire squad.

Evans said: "We're not blessed with the number of strikers we have, are we? We could do with one or two more forwards.

"From our point of view, the CLINTON MORRISON trail has not gone cold. He is still under consideration.

"Mick and I are on top of the situation. The rest is up to the player.

"Perhaps CLINTON was a crazy, mixed-up kid when we made our first approach. I honestly don't know. But his situation is being monitored on an on-going basis."