Sunday 28 December 2014 20:11, UK
Keith Millen is capable of managing Crystal Palace on a permanent basis, according to Joel Ward.
Millen is back in temporary charge at Selhurst Park while the club's chairman Steve Parish looks for a replacement for Neil Warnock, who lost his job in the wake of Boxing Day's defeat against Southampton.
The caretaker boss, who did not seek the full-time job on the two previous occasions he was in charge, secured Palace's first Christmas point as his side drew 0-0 at QPR.
And asked whether Millen was up to becoming permanent manager, full-back Ward told Sky Sports: "There’s no doubt he could do that.
He knows the lads, he knows all our characters and how we work and what makes us tick. He can use that as a strength and he knows what has brought us success in the past.
"We’ll back him, we’ll play under him and he knows the structure. That gives us the direction to move forward and build on performances and build some momentum.
"He knows the lads, he knows all our characters and how we work and what makes us tick. He can use that as a strength and he knows what has brought us success in the past. We’re just going to get on with our jobs until further notice. We’ve just got to focus and be led by Keith."
Palace are looking for their fourth new manager in 14 months, and Ward said: "We’ve been in this situation before on various different occasions and we’ve just got to get on with the job at hand, focus on the games and not let it affect us.
"The main focus is to pick up points and to stay in the Premier League. That is all we are going to focus on. I’m not going to comment on anything else about the decision that has been made.
"The expectations after last season (Palace finished 11th under Tony Pulis) are high. We set our bar high and we want to get back to that. We want to get back to winning ways and keeping a clean sheet today is a step forward."
Captain Mile Jedinak said he would like a quick appointment but added: "The powers that be know the circumstances - they know what’s needed and I’m sure they’ll make the decision that’s needed when the time is right.
"Would we want to see someone come in straight away? Of course we would, but we’ve been in this position a few times before and we know that decisions can’t always be made straight away.
"Whatever that decision is you need to respect it and until then you keep working hard for each other, for Keith, for everyone else involved so that when someone else does come in it’s business as usual and we can keep that ball rolling."
