Thursday 1 January 2015 15:25, UK
Sky Sports News HQ understands there are issues delaying the completion of Alan Pardew’s move to Crystal Palace.
The 53-year-old is expected to be named the south London club’s new manager after they agreed compensation with Newcastle and opened talks on Monday.
But there are still unresolved issues regarding two members of Pardew's backroom staff, namely the performance analyst Ben Stevens and goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman.
Sky sources understand these are minor complications that do not put Pardew's move to Palace in jeopardy, but Woodman has a son, Freddie, in Newcastle's academy and faces a decision whether to continue developing his son or move south with Pardew.
This could mean caretaker manager Keith Millen will take the team for a second successive game at Aston Villa on New Year's Day, after guiding Palace to a 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.
Millen said on Tuesday: "As far as I'm concerned, the chairman has told me to prepare for Aston Villa. It's important myself and the players stay focused on that.
“I spoke to the chairman and he said Newcastle compensation has been agreed and we've been given permission to speak to Alan. That was literally all I was told and nothing’s changed since then.
"When I've done this before it's dragged on for a few weeks. That starts having an effect on the group – the not knowing.
“I think the timing of it all, if it can be done as quickly as possible, that would help us because the January transfer window will be very important to the club.”
Pardew, who has spent the past four years at Newcastle, has an affinity with Palace, having made more than 100 appearances for the club as a player between 1987 and 1991.
