February 12 2004

Crystal Palace

Iain Dowie is still hoping to sign Oldham midfielder Paul Murray, but is looking at new goal-keeping options after Aussie Les Pogliacomi turned down Palace, by Joe O'Shea.

Last week Oldham reluctantly accepted an undisclosed offer for both Pogliacomi, 27, and Murray, 27, who are out of contract this summer, and gave them permission to talk to the Eagles.

But Pogliacomi turned down the chance to join his former boss Dowie and coach John Harbin at Palace, preferring to stay at Boundary Park, where they have both been offered new improved deals.

Now Murray, who has a new baby, may also turn his back on the chance to join Palace.

He said: "Just because I spoke to Palace, that doesn't mean I will sign for them next week, next month or whenever.

"I can see myself having a future with Oldham as much as I can see a future anywhere else. I'm not sure at the moment."

But Dowie needs a goalkeeper after Sunderland recalled Thomas Myhre and is not prepared to wait forever. He has already had a number of goalkeepers down at New Beckenham on trial and Charlton’s Sergie Leite, 24, kept a clean sheet in the reserves' 1-0 win at Norwich last week.

The dithering Oldham pairs' reaction to Palace's offer was not what Dowie is looking for and they may have missed their chance.

He said: "Sometimes you want to see how hungry people are to come and play at a better level. That’s important to me, how much desire they have to come and be part of the team. They are good lads who have that sort of ethos but it's their decision to make.

"It’s something that has not come to fruition yet. But there are plenty of irons in the fire because you can’t hang all your hats on one peg."

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