June 3 2009

Shaun Derry

Shaun Derry believes manager Neil Warnock needs to sign a "number of new players" this summer.

Palace endured a frustrating campaign which saw them end up in 15th place - just a year after reaching the play-off semi-finals.

With John Oster, Paul Ifill, James Scowcroft and Carl Fletcher shown the door and Shefki Kuqi stalling on a new contract, fresh recruits are the main priority.

Derry told cpfc.co.uk: "Looking at next year we do need reinforcements and we need a number of new players to come in and try to push the clubs in the top end of the table and be knocking on the play-off doors again.

"It will be even more important this year than last because we have all gone on record to say that it ended disappointingly for us."

Darren Ambrose will bolster the Eagles squad when he officially signs from Charlton on July 1 and Derry thinks the midfielder is a good acquisition.

"You look at the history of the player, the calibre of the player - he has played in the Premiership when he had a cracking move from Ipswich to Newcastle and at the time Newcastle were top four or five," Derry added on the official Palace website.

"So I don't think you go to places like that if you are no good. And I know he has been involved in a relegation season this year, but at the same time he has been a name on a number of Championship managers' lists for the past four or five years.

"He has obviously played for our rivals but at the same time when good players become available you want to try and get them."