March 23 2001

Crystal Palace

Eagles coach Ray Houghton has admitted that it wasn't an easy to accept manager Alan Smith's offer to replace Glenn Cockerill as his assistant. Cockerill was sacked by the club earlier this week.

Glenn Cockerill was shown the door by chairman Simon Jordan on Wednesday after a string of poor performances by The Eagles.

Ray Houghton then was appointed assistent manager, but the former Republic of Ireland international said that he was upset by the way Cockerill was sacked. He admitted though that his new job is a great chance to progress his management career.

"I want to go into management in the future and this is a great opportunity for me to learn how do deal with all aspects of the job. But I'd be lying if I said Glenn's leaving hadn't been playing on my mind," Houghton said.

"I've spent the last eight months working with him and it hurts. Even now I feel a part of me is missing when I go out on the training pitch. But I have got to be professional about it."