July 4 2003

Crystal Palace

NEIL SHIPPERLEY has told the Croydon Advertiser that he would be delighted to return to Palace, if they made Wimbledon an offer.

SHIPPERLEY spent two years at Palace from 1996-98, scoring 21 goals for the club, before leaving for Nottingham Forest.

The Chatham born forward is currently employed by Wimbledon, but Palace have been monitoring his situation and are increasingly likely to make an approach.

Steve Kember knew SHIPPERLEY well from his previous time at the club and recently described him as the "embodiment of the out-and-out goalscorer the club need".

SHIPPERLEY is keen on a move back to Palace. He told the Croydon Advertiser: "I have very fond memories of my time at Palace,"

"The club is obviously close to my heart and if it was to happen then I would be delighted, but that is a long way off happening I should imagine.

"I don't really know. I've certainly not heard anything."

In responce to the question of whether the Wimbledon administrators would cash in on him to keep the club afloat, he said: "That is something I've not been told, but you would have thought so, with the club in administration,"

"They need to cut costs and keep the club afloat. That would, I should imagine, be common sense, but whether it happens or not I suppose is up to the administrators at the end of the day."