Thursday 1 January 2015 19:52, UK
Scott Dann is looking forward to working with Alan Pardew once he is eventually confirmed as Crystal Palace manager.
Pardew watched Palace draw 0-0 with Aston Villa on New Year's Day and his move from Newcastle is expected to be finalised before the weekend.
Dann revealed the 53-year-old spoke with Palace's players after the game at Villa Park and he could be in charge for their FA Cup third-round clash with non-league Dover Athletic on Sunday.
He said: "We knew he was going to be here. Keith (Millen) told us before the game.
"I think when any new manager comes in, it’s a chance to impress and show him what you can do. Hopefully he can come in and add to what we have got in the team and start pushing us up the league.
"He came in and had a few words but didn’t say too much. We’ll probably see him tomorrow (Friday) sometime at the training ground.
"He’s been managing at a big club and he’s been managing in the Premier League for a long time.
"We know what we’ve got to do and I think he knows what we need to do as well and hopefully we can hit the ground running as soon as he comes in tomorrow.
"I think so he’s obviously got that pedigree. He’s managed at the highest level at Newcastle. They’re a massive club and he’s come to manage us when he probably could have stayed at Newcastle.
"The lads are delighted that he’s come and we’re looking forward to working with him. We need to keep putting performances like that in, week-in, week-out and add just a little bit of quality.
"I’m not sure if it has all been confirmed because we’ve obviously had the game today but with him saying he’ll be in tomorrow I’m pretty sure he’ll be in charge for the game on Sunday."
Team-mate Joe Ledley echoed Dann's comments, but hopes Pardew will prove more of a long-term answer to Palace's managerial situation than Tony Pulis and Neil Warnock did.
"It’s fantastic news. He’s done brilliantly in the Premier League," he added.
"This will be my third manager now but hopefully I can work under Alan for many more years. It’s been a very difficult couple of days for us but we’ve put in some good performances.
"Newcastle is a big club but we’ve got some good players here and we’re going in the right direction. Hopefully with Alan we can get a couple of wins under our blt and go from there. We’re getting points here and there but the main thing is getting some wins and going on a run from there."
