Crystal Palace are taking manager Steve Bruce to court in attempt to stop him walking out of the club without serving a period of notice.

A hearing was scheduled for yesterday as the News Shopper went to press, at which Palace officials will seek to gain an injunction requiring Bruce to serve nine months' notice, which would give the club control over his immediate future.

Bruce, a target of Division One rivals Birmingham City, has already tried to tender his resignation but Palace chairman Simon Jordan has refused to accept it.

As a result, the former Manchester United defender was removed from control of team affairs but Jordan is keen to ensure the team's promotion chances they are currently fourth in the table- are not affected by off-the-field events.

"If we had not taken this action, I think Bruce would have walked out and could have disrupted things for us," Jordan told the Evening Standard.

November 14, 2001 11:10