July 31 2002

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace have dismissed reports of Shaun Derry moving to Birmingham and say he is due to complete his medical today.

Derry was at the club's annual photocall yesterday, but was not photgraphed, and Trevor Francis said the deal was two-thirds completed.

A club spokesman told Holmesdale.net that they have heard nothing from the training ground which says the deal has collapsed and expect it to be finalised at some point this afternoon.

A story was released from Portsmouth-based news agency M and Y this morning saying that Steve Bruce had signed Derry under Francis's nose at the last minute.