PAUL Hart says his sole focus is to preserve Crystal Palace’s Championship status.

Hart has agreed to take the role on until the end of the season and is joined by Dougie Freedman (assistant manager) and John Pemberton (first team coach).

The announcement was made today at a hastily arranged Selhurst Park press conference following the anticipated departure last night of Neil Warnock to QPR.

Hart said: “This is a big challenge but it is one that I felt after talking to Brendan Guilfoyle and Phil Alexander that the support would be there.

“We are going to need everybody behind us and there is only one objective – to stay in this division.

“We have only one goal and it has been spelt out that this club deserves to be in this division.”

Hart revealed he had only been contacted about the role yesterday evening.

He added: “I asked a few questions and it was explained to me how the club was run and what was required.

“I felt those conditions were fair and that I could succeed.

“We need to hit the ground running.

“I haven’t met the players yet but I saw them play against Aston Villa and I was very pleased with what I saw.

“I thought they gave them a great game and made it very, very tough.

“That sort of character and attitude is what we are going to need. That was part of the attraction – the strength of character which remains in the squad.”

Freedman said: “It is a huge challenge but a real opportunity.

“There is a really good squad. The players have done nothing wrong here and the fans have done nothing wrong here.

“I won’t be playing and am here to assist the gaffer in whatever he needs as an assistant coach.”

Administrator Brendan Guilfoyle said: “I’m an accountant and take advice from advisors and the chief executive of this club.

“The name Paul Hart came forward and we moved into further discussions with him and brought it to a conclusion.

“The advice was Paul was the best man for the job after what he did with Portsmouth.

“I don’t want to get into specifics of who we did or didn’t speak to, but we trawled the market of who was available, took soundings and the result of that was the appointment of Paul Hart.”

Guilfoyle also flatly denied suggestions any of Palace’s star names will be joining Warnock at QPR.

He added: “I can tell you no players are leaving this club before the end of the season.”