CAMERON JEROME is keen to make a good impression at Palace after completing a season-long loan move on deadline day - and has hailed co-chairman Steve Parish for making the transfer happen.
The striker's move south from Stoke may have surprised a few supporters but he has been impressed by what he's seen so far at the club's training ground and already knows about the passionate fans in one particular area of Selhurst Park too.
"You have to make the right impression and give your all with good performances. I'm sure the fans will take to not just me, but all the new signings," Jerome said.
"The fans seem to be quite notorious for making a racket behind the goal in the Holmesdale Stand. I watched the Sunderland game on television and the support there was fantastic.
"I think that's really important for fans to get right behind us. It can spur us to winning football matches, especially at home.
"I've only trained two or three times. I haven't been down here that long but it's been good.
"The manager has made me feel welcome and the chairman especially too. He played a big part in getting me down here.
"He's sorted every single thing really, he's hands-on, and most chairmen don't really get involved in that many things, but Steve likes to and he cares a lot about the players and how everyone is.
"That goes a long way for the players, so he was a huge factor for me.
"I'm just looking forward to bedding in with the new players and hopefully we can click together quickly. We have a half-decent squad here.
"I've played with one or two of them before and I know a few of them from playing against them in the past.
"The boys are spot-on, there are no egos here and Palace have always been renowned for being a well-run family club. That's the impression I've got so far."
The former Birmingham City man admits there had been other interest in his services during the transfer window, but once he knew of Palace's intentions, he "jumped at the chance" to join up with manager Ian Holloway.
And he hinted he may review his personal situation at the end of the season should Palace have a successful campaign and avoid relegation.
"I had a few options over the transfer window, but it was a case of I wasn't really available until the last part of the window, and that was on loan only," said Jerome.
"Palace jumped at the chance and I jumped at the chance to come to the club. It wasn't a case of I had to leave, the opportunity was just there.
"I wasn't pushing for a move at all, I was more than happy to come and be part of Crystal Palace and what the manager is trying to build here.
"As a player, you want to play in every game.
"Sometimes it's not possible, but now I want to work hard to get in the team and keep up my performances to keep my place in the side.
"I don't think there are any guarantees in the team at Palace, there are no egos, and as a footballer you have to work hard to put in the performances on a Saturday.
"We just have to maintain our Premier League status.
"But I just hope to do well for myself, do well for the team, and then just see what happens from there."
