Trevor Francis claims Crystal Palace have received no inquiries for any player since the Premiership transfer window opened, and despite the financial difficulties facing Nationwide League clubs, he wants to keep his squad together.

With Palace up to seventh, just one point behind the play-off places after a hectic but successful Christmas schedule, the opening of the transfer window threatens to diminish a squad that is fast gelling into promotion contention.

Francis said: "We have a good squad of young players and I know when you put some results together people are going to take notice.

But I am hoping that we won't have to lose anybody."

The expected flurry of transfer activity has so far failed to materialise and Francis claims to have received no inquiries either direct or through chairman Simon Jordan.

He said: "I have not had any inquires to me direct. Whether there has been to the chairman I don't know, but I would not have thought so because he would immediately inform me.

"If he receives or if I receive any offers, we make it known to each other and discuss it."

Speculation that Steve Bruce's Birmingham City would re-open summer negotiations to secure Hayden Mullins' services has so far proved wide of the mark, with the Midlanders opting to bring in Ferdinand Coly, Christophe Dugarry and Ipswich's Jamie Clapham instead.

Mullins has just under 18 months to run on his present deal, but Julian Gray and in-form Tommy Black, who has scored nine goals in nine games, are both out of contract at the end of the season, and may tempt cut-price bids from Premiership clubs.

Ade Akinbiyi summed up the mood of a buoyant squad when he told the Guardian: "The best thing we can do now is keep hold of our players, especially Tommy Black who is flying at the moment.

"A lot of clubs are looking at young players nowadays and we have Julian Gray, Wayne Routledge and definitely Tommy Black who's contract is up at the end of the season. So obviously if nothing is worked out they are going to want to move on."

Francis was grateful that his chairman had allowed him to sign French goalkeeper Cedric Berthelin, who replaced Alex Kolinko, when the Latvian pulled his hamstring against Blackpool on Saturday.

Kolinko is out for a month and 6ft4ins Berthelin will make his debut against Bradford on Saturday.

Francis said: "He looks to have presence and comes highly recommended from his time at Luton.

"I think he needs a reserve game, but I am afraid to play because I can't risk him

getting injured before

Saturday."

Darren Powell had a hernia operation on Saturday and will be out for over a month, but Francis hopes that Thomson, Fleming, Freedman, and Johnson will all be back from injury by the end of January.

January 8, 2003 17:30