As Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan went to the High Court this week to prevent Steve Bruce joining Birmingham, caretaker manager Steve Kember told the Guardian about the aftermath of Bruce's departure and his own commitment to Palace writes Joseph O'Shea.

A High Court date of Thursday, November 22, was set at a preliminary hearing on Tuesday morning, as Jordan seeks an injunction to force Bruce to serve nine months' notice at Selhurst Park.

Jordan is insisting that Bruce work a notice period, after his manager resigned just five months into a three year contract to join Birmingham City. Jordan has so far refused to accept his resignation and is adamant that Bruce will not join the Blues this season, unless they pay £1million compensation.

Birmingham are believed to be willing to wait and may ask Bruce to appoint an interim coach, possibly Palace reserve team coach Mark Bowen, until his own situation is sorted out.

Bruce is currently on paid leave until the end of the season, with his former assistant Steve Kember and Terry Bullivant taking charge of first team affairs.

Kember is no stranger to this temporary role as manager, having twice before taken the first team, and saved the club from last gasp relegation last season.

Both Kember and first team coach Bullivant have just accepted new improved four year contracts at Palace, dispelling rumours that they may follow Bruce.

Kember told the Guardian: "I never actually intimated that I was going to Birmingham and I was never actually asked. I think Steve intimated to Terry that if he got the job he'd like Terry to go there.

"But the chairman knew that and decided that he didn't want either of us to go, so he offered us improved contracts, which shows his commitment to us and our commitment to the club."

Although he was a leading candidate for the manager's job in the summer, Kember knows that Jordan will probably replace Bruce with another high profile name. And he is happy to maintain some stability to a club that seems to be in constant turmoil.

He said: "The chairman's mentioned that he would like to bring somebody else in again and keep the whole set up as it is.

"He has assured us that he will not rush into anything and that if and when he makes an appointment, he hopes it will be someone that is compatible with me and Terry."

The list of possible contenders has been considerably narrowed by Jordan's insistence that he will not approach anyone who is under contract, but candidates include Bryan Robson, George Graham, and Steve McMahon.

Kember feels a similar combination he enjoyed with Bruce and Bullivant would work.

He said: "Steve was a big name and he commanded the respect of the players, because he had played at the highest level for a long time. Because of his name he was also able to attract players to come to the club."

And faced with the prospect of managing Palace's promotion charge starting at home against Crewe on Saturday, Kember feels the squad needs strengthening.

He said: "If we have two or three out injured we are down to bare bones. The chairman has indicated that he will spend money to get those two or three players that we need. We have a list drawn up and we will strengthen, hopefully in the next couple of weeks."

Palace's defence has leaked goals since Steve Vickers loan spell ended, so with Tony Popovic away on international duty and Jamie Smith out for a month recovering from a knee operation, a defender is the priority.

Stoke City's Belarus international Sergei Shtaniuk is a possible target but is rated at around £2million, so Palace may opt to sign an out-of-favour Premiership defender like Manchester United's David May.

November 16, 2001 10:30