October 10 2007

Mark Kennedy

Mark Kennedy reckons the Crystal Palace players should take their share of the blame for Peter Taylor's sacking.

Taylor was given his marching orders by Simon Jordan on Monday after a terrible start to the new campaign.

With just two league wins in the first 10 matches, midfielder Kennedy believes his teammates are equally responsible for the poor results.

The 31-year-old said: "In fairness, the manager had the whole of last season and the beginning of this season so I don't think it was a knee jerk reaction by any means.

"And over the course of that time the decision has been taken and there's not a lot to argue.

"The manager can do all the coaching and all the tactics - but once you cross that line it's down to the players.

"And we have to ask ourselves the question could we have done more?' and I think the answer to that question is yes."

Kennedy claims Taylor had the full respect of the players despite public fallings out with Clinton Morrison, Darren Ward, Gabor Kiraly, Shefki Kuqi and Michael Hughes.

He said: "Hand on my heart - I would be surprised if there's one person in that dressing room that would have been happy to see him go. To say he lost the dressing room is wrong."