January 11 2007

Paul Ifill

Paul Ifill can’t wait to be sent to Coventry after turning down the chance to spend a week in Barbados.

Ifill was set to join up with the Barbados national team for their Gold Cup qualifying campaign in the Caribbean, but instead the winger will make his Palace debut at Coventry on Saturday.

Ifill, who qualifies for Barbados through his father, joined Palace from Sheffield United this week and Eagles boss Peter Taylor asked him to call off his trip so he can feature at the Ricoh Arena.

Although he has swapped sun-drenched Caribbean beaches for an afternoon in the midlands, Ifill believes he has made the right decision to get his career back on track.

“If I was still at Sheffield United I would be out in the Caribbean playing now, but I had to make the choice for good of my career,” Ifill said.

“I had agreed with Sheffield that I would go out there this week but I'll take making a winning start with Palace instead, even if the weather will probably be a bit worse in Coventry.”

Former Millwall star Ifill is adamant he has made the right decision to join Palace ahead of Leeds, even though it meant annoying his mates.

The Brighton-born player has been getting abusive text messages from his Leeds supporting friends, as well as Millwall and Seagulls fans since he signed on with Palace.

He said: “I'm from Brighton which won't please the Palace fans, the Millwall fans aren't that happy either and I have mates from Leeds who have been giving me stick as well.

“I'm getting it from all angles but I know I have made the right choice.”

Ifill made just four appearances for United this season despite playing a key role in their promotion from the Championship.

He admitted he was desperate to leave and said: “Neil Warnock liked to set up defensively away from home and pack the midfield with no wingers which just didn't suit my game.

“I told him that if that was always going to be the case I wanted to move on and after that chat I didn't play again.

“I was training with the kids which was no good to me at all. I knew that I had to get out in January.

"I'd like to have another crack at the Premiership and hopefully I can do that here.”