May 17 2006

John Harbin

Crystal Palace fitness coach John Harbin believes IAIN DOWIE will remain at the club, despite speculation linking the Eagles boss with a move to Middlesbrough, by Stuart Pink.

Rumours have been rife that DOWIE called a players meeting on Monday afternoon to announce he was quitting his post to take up the vacant manager's position on Teeside.

But Harbin informed the Croydon Guardian the end of season meeting had been arranged for some time and was used to give players their off-season training programmes.

The Aussie believes the Palace boss will stay at Selhurst Park and has already started planning for next season after the disappointment of last Tuesday night's play-off exit.

Harbin said: "I'm confident the staff will be here. There's been no indication that anybody will be leaving, no indication whatsoever.

"I've had a meeting with IAIN and we think we've been kicked in the backside and that's an education. We have to do something about it. We can't sit back and say that was good enough because it wasn't.

"The response has started immediately."

Despite the truth behind the meeting coming to light, DOWIE remains third favourite to get the job behind front runner Terry Venables and Wigan manager Paul Jewell.

The Palace boss is regularly touted for jobs at top northern clubs as his wife and two young sons are still based in Bolton. Departing manager Steve McClaren even recommended DOWIE to Boro chairman Steve Gibson as a potential successor.

But Harbin is tipping DOWIE to re-ignite his Premiership experience with his present club and tips the Eagles to come back even stronger next year.

Harbin said: "The boys can bounce back there's no question. They bounced back after Saturday, and Saturday was very dismal.

"I know it sounds a terrible thing to say but I'm glad the season finished for us with that game and not the one on Saturday.

"I've always been told to judge a player's character when he doesn't have to and when we were 3-0 down people like Jobi McAnuff and AJ are still running their backsides off."

Although Harbin believes there will be no changes in the club's managerial staff over the summer, the Palace fitness coach says the coaches will alter their coaching techniques next season by implementing a slightly stricter regime.

Harbin said: "There's going to be changes next year, that's obvious.

"Obviously there is a turnover of playing staff but I think the changes will come from within, we'll use a lot more harsh discipline."

Harbin feels the second half brawl at Vicarage Road involving both sets of players proved the Eagles stars care deeply about the club's plight.

Harbin himself got involved in the fight: "I was hit by one of my own players," he revealed. Harbin has come up with a novel way of injecting similar passion into his side next season.

"I think they liked the brawl," added Harbin. "If we could stage one of them at the start of each game we could be within a chance of automatic promotion.

"The saying is one more round and we've got another round to go and that starts next year."

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