September 15 2004

Iain Dowie

Palace boss IAIN DOWIE is maintaining his silence over reports he held talks over the managerial vacancy at Blackburn Rovers, by Joseph O'Shea.

Although Welsh boss Mark Hughes looks set to take over at Ewood Park, one national newspaper reported that DOWIE held talks with Blackburn on Monday.

On Tuesday, DOWIE said: "No comment. There is nothing to comment on. It’s speculation as far as I am concerned. I don’t know anything about it."

The 39-year-old boss took Palace from fourth bottom to promotion in six months and has previously been linked with vacancies at Leeds United and Southampton.

He has yet to put pen to paper on a new four year deal he agreed with chairman Simon Jordan this summer, and is unhappy at the lack of transfer funds he was handed to keep Palace in the Premiership.

Meanwhile, DOWIE is set to ring the changes of Saturday’s crunch clash with Manchester City.

He said: "Is it likely to be the same team? Probably not."

Ben Watson and Michael Hughes making a welcome return to midfield with Fitz Hall dropping into defence. Tony Popovic and Joonas Kolkka are the favourites to make way, while error-prone keeper Julian Speroni could be displaced by Gabor Kiraly for his Palace debut.

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