May 22 2003

Hayden Mullins

After being named Crystal Palace Player of the Year at the club's end-of-season awards on Saturday, midfielder Hayden Mullins says he is still waiting to be offered a contract extension by the club.

Mullins, 23, was a popular choice for the fans' player-of-the-year award, following an outstanding season where he has played in midfield and right across the three-man defence.

He told the Croydon Guardian: "I'm really pleased. It's nice to win an award especially when it's voted for by the fans because it shows that the work you do on the field is appreciated."

Back in October 2002, appreciated was the last thing Mullins felt, as constant speculation about his future and a horrendous backpass which cost three points against Wimbledon saw him regularly booed at Selhurst Park.

Mullins said: "Everyone makes mistakes and it's how you bounce back form it that's important. I feel I did that this season."

From October on Mullins was Palace's "Mr Consistent" and his two performances against Liverpool when he shackled Michael Owen stood out.

His manager Steve Kember said: "Hayden's proved what a good consistent player he is by playing at the back and in midfield. He's very ver-satile and I thought it was fully deserved. Two or three of his displays especially in the cup games were first class."

In January, Birmingham made a paltry £600,000 offer for Mullins which was rejected out of hand by Jordan, but with just a year left on his current deal, the prospect of renewed Premiership interest looms large.

Mullins said: "We have talked about a new deal last year, but the club haven't come back to me yet. I am waiting and if there is a deal on the table I will certainly consider it. But until that happens I can't weigh up my options."

Kember says the club is likely to make Mullins an offer in the coming weeks.

He said: "From the club's point of view, it is a fact of football that the bigger clubs are going to come and look at your better players.

"We will have to take it as it comes and see what happens. I'm sure it will be spoken about with the chairman this week."