INTERVIEW: Steve Parish spoke to Mirror Football after Crystal Palace won the Europa League against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig in Oliver Glasner's final match at the helm
Crystal Palace owner Steve Parish with Oliver Glasner
Crystal Palace owner Steve Parish with Oliver Glasner
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Steve Parish has confirmed there will be no emotional U-turn on Oliver Glasner's future. However, the Crystal Palace chairman insists the Austrian has provided the perfect parting gift in the club's search for his successor.
Parish said after the Eagles' Conference League triumph in Leipzig: "It's incredible, I'm overjoyed for everybody.
"But Oliver's not going to stay, no, he's not going to stay on. Listen, it's a great ending, it's a happy ending. We're absolutely thrilled and I'm thrilled for him because he's worked so hard."There's a lot of pressure on everybody, and, you know, sometimes pressure makes diamonds and that's what we did tonight. It was a big effort from everyone.
"Importantly, everybody always wanted the same thing for the football club, we just had to find a way through some things. Oliver wants to go and do other things and he can't have done anything more for us, right?"
Andoni Iraola, who is set to quit Bournemouth despite securing Europa League qualification, remains Palace's top managerial target.
The Eagles are ready to hand him a significant say on transfer matters as they look to fend off rival interest from AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen, respectively.
Coupe de France-winning Lens boss Pierre Sage and Frank Lampard are considered potential alternatives if an agreement cannot be struck.
Parish continued: "Tonight's tonight, right? Tomorrow, we'll worry about the future. You know, obviously, we've been doing things [talking to various candidates]. There's no doubt this helps, right?
"Now the club has got more to offer, this helps with everything. It's just a great night for the club. I want to go and enjoy it."
Parish, who labelled UEFA's decision to demote Palace to the Conference League "a terrible injustice" last July, feels bridges have now been built with the governing body.
Steve Parish and Oliver Glasner
Steve Parish celebrates Palace's Conference League victory with Oliver Glasner(Image: Getty Images)
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He concluded after sitting next to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin at the Red Bull Arena: "He's a great guy, he was very nice.
"We had a nice dinner last night. You know, in the end, everything worked out, right? Everything worked out, so it's great. He was a good guy. I enjoyed his company. He was fantastic to be around, it was good."
Additionally, Daichi Kamada's contract situation is among Palace's top priorities.
The Japan international, who won the Europa League under Glasner at Eintracht Frankfurt, is currently set to become a free agent this summer.
Meanwhile, the club have also triggered a one-year option to extend versatile midfielder Jefferson Lerma's stay at Selhurst Park.
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