May 29 2003

Hayden Mullins

Hayden Mullins' agent has warned Simon Jordan he must sell his Player of the Year, "if the club wishes to get some financial reward for their role in his up-bringing."

Andrew Mills has rejected claims that the club were negotiating an extension to the versatile 23-year-old's contract which only has a year to run.

He said: "No effort has been made by Palace to keep Hayden so I have written to the chairman to confirm that under no circumstances would he be staying after the end of this contract.

"I have written to the chairman to say that under no circumstances will he be staying after the end of this contract.

"It's no secret that Hayden feels he will not fulfil his true potential at Palace. If the club wishes to get some financial reward for its role in his upbringing then it needs to sell him this year, otherwise his contract will run out and he will become a free agent."

At Friday night's Fans Forum, Jordan confirmed that he may have to sell one of his club's best players to prevent him leaving on a free transfer in a year's time.

He said: "I have a difficult choice. Do we hang on to a player that we have developed and invested in and let him go for nothing?

"Or do we sell him and get the best return for the club. It's a real conundrum. We've offered to improve his contract but he isn't looking to stay at the club, and he has a right to develop his career."

Birmingham City have twice expressed interest in Mullins, and made a £600,000 bid for him in January which Jordan rejected as "derisory".

Charlton, Aston Villa and Leicester City could now enter the race for his signature at a similar price.

Croydon Guardian