Ian Holloway admitted that the team spirit within Selhurst Park had gone, leaving him no option but to step down.

At half-time in the Premier League defeat to Fulham, Holloway tried to rally his troops to turn the result around, but the fact it did not work was, he admitted, telling.

He said: "What I say at half time normally has an effect on people. On Monday, it didn't. I've lost the spirit of that group. I owe it to the lads to admit that.

"I hold myself and Steve [Parish] responsible. I didn't value enough the spirit of the group that helped us get to the Premier League.

"I'm not saying my new signings aren't good enough. But they need to buy into this football club the same way my other lads did."

He added: "I could never work any harder than I have done. And this man [Parish] knows that.

"It is a privilege to have worked at Palace. With me out the way, the new man will have a chance to start again."