September 3 2003

Hayden Mullins

The Premiership transfer window slammed shut on Monday, closing the door on HAYDEN MULLINS' Palace departure until Christmas at least.

MULLINS, 24, is in the final year his contract but Palace’s player of the year last season has so far been unwilling to sign an extension because he wants to play in the top flight.

Manager Steve Kember admitted earlier this summer that Palace could not afford to turn down any substantial offers for the versatile defender, but none materialised.

Kember told the Croydon Guardian: "There were no offers or if there were I wasn't told." Birmingham City made a £600,000 offer in January and were expected to follow up their interest, but a three-match ban and the midfielder’s hernia operation is believed to have put them off - for now.

MULLINS has made an impressive return in Palace’s last two matches and another bid could prize him away when the transfer window reopens in December, because Palace would not want one of their key assets leaving on a free transfer.

Kember said: "We will cross that bridge when we come to it. Are we going to cash in on him if he’s playing well. And if things are going well for us can we persuade him to stay?"

But Julian Gray’s protracted move to Charlton Athletic could still go ahead in the next few days, because the window does not affect out of contract players.

The clubs are still negotiating a compensation fee (due under FA rules for players under 24) after Palace rejected a "derisory" £150,000 offer last month.

Chairman Simon Jordan was holding out for the £500,000 he paid Arsenal three years ago, but is now thought to be willing to accept £250,000.

There have been no bids for transfer listed pair Danny Granville or Ade Akinbiyi, but Kember is confident the latter will find a new club in the next few days, with his former club Gillingham favourites ahead of Walsall and Stoke.

If Kember can reduce his wage bill and or raise some much needed transfer funds, he will strengthen his squad, with a left-sided player his priority.

He added: "The transfer window does not affect us. Ican still get someone from the Premiership or Division One."