May 17 2017

Julian Speroni

Steve Parish handed Julian Speroni a new contract and has hailed his importance to Crystal Palace.

Speroni's contract was due to expire at the end of the campaign but has now signed a one-year extension.

Though the Argentine has Wayne Hennessey ahead of him and been restricted to just two FA Cup starts, Eagles chief Parish wants the 38-year-old to remain at Selhurst Park.

"Julian has signed a new contract because he's very important to the club," Parish told Holmesdale Radio.

"Whether it's as a no.1 or a supporting player, he's great to have around the place. He's so positive, a fantastic character, and we all felt we owed him that.

"We always rely on him when he comes in, we're never in any doubt he gives us a good performance. That was one we wanted to do. Everything else is for me and Sam [Allardyce] to sit down and talk through when the season is over."

Speroni has been at the club for 13 years and is fourth on the all-time appearances list with 390 – a record for a Palace goalkeeper.

Joe Ledley, Damien Delaney, Zeki Fryers, Mathieu Flamini and Fraizer Campbell are the Eagles players out of contract when the season finishes.

You can listen to the full Steve Parish interview on the HOL Radio page.