Francis signs up Symons
Trevor Francis today made Fulham defender Kit Symons his first signing as manager of Crystal Palace.
The clubs have agreed a fee of around £400,000 for the 30-year-old.
Symons will face Manchester City, one of his former clubs, at Selhurst Park tomorrow now that he has passed a medical and agreed personal terms with the First Division club.
The Welsh international has made only three appearances for Fulham this season after losing his place to youngster Zat Knight.
Meanwhile, Carlo Nash returns to Crystal Palace with Manchester City tomorrow claiming he was lucky to get out of Selhurst Park when he did.
The goalkeeper left to join Stockport on a free transfer three years ago during Mark Goldberg's protracted negotiations to take over the club from Ron Noades. Palace's finances steadily worsened after the computer businessman took control and the club eventually went into administration.
Players and staff were at one stage owed thousands of pounds in wages and since Nash left there have been five managerial changes. Simon Jordan has also become the owner of the club.
Nash, 28, who joined City from Stockport for £100,000 in January, said: "You could say I got out at exactly the right time. Since Noades left there's been lots of changes and it must be hard for them to get any consistency. But the reason I had to leave was because I was not getting first-team football and needed the experience.
"It will be nice to go back to what was my first professional club. I always keep an eye out for their results even though a lot of my old team-mates have left the club."
The match will also be significant for City's Shaun Wright-Phillips. His dad is former Palace striker Ian Wright who has returned to the club to coach the strikers.
Palace goalkeeper Matt Clarke may miss the game due to a hand injury. If he does not recover in time Alexanders Kolinko will play in goal.
Midfielder David Hopkin is still struggling with an ankle problem but defender Jamie Smith could return after a knee injury.
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