NEW Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock says he feels "excited and nervous" as he sets about guiding the Eagles in the Premier League.
The 65-year-old began work on Thursday, meeting the players and holding his first training session – including Wilfried Zaha, who is set to complete a season-long loan back in SE25.
There are few details to iron out regarding the winger, but the club hope to announce the deal tonight and include him in Saturday's squad for Newcastle United.
Recalling his previous spell as Palace boss, Warnock praised former owner Simon Jordan and hopes the fans realise it was a difficult period for him and the club when they were in administration.
And Warnock, who ironically received the news of a points deduction when Palace went up to Newcastle towards the end of management spell last time, is looking forward to the next chapter.
The former Sheffield United boss also has a good feeling about the current squad of players and can see how they did so well last season.
"It's just a little bit of unfinished business really," said Warnock. "And I look back on my career and I had a special time here.
"I never really finished off how I would have liked to. I did a super job, the fans here have given me the confidence back to go on a little bit further.
"It's a great club. It's an old fashioned football club and I love the stadium and the fans and the noise they make.
"I think it's really exciting for managers to manage clubs like that.
"I've had great times at the likes of Huddersfield and Plymouth (in my career), but I was a at lull when I first came here.
"Simon Jordan was fantastic for me and conned me into coming! Before I knew where I was, I became manager and we just grew.
"Sadly it went into administration and I had a difficult period of quite a few months of trying to keep the club afloat really.
"I had quite a few arguments with the administrator at the time. I remember the second day I came here I got a letter advising me I was one of 20 people who could be made redundant by the end of the week.
"I told Simon and he gave the administrator a rollicking and the next day he came in and apologised.
"It was a good job her did because they ended up getting half-a-million quid.
"I like the academy here. I've always had a lot of time for Gary Issott, and I think I gave 16 academy lads their debuts in two years when I was here.
"I love Beckenham too. I feel very comfortable here and I am just looking forward to it, I felt like a young manager this morning!
"I am excited, nervous and really looking forward to the challenge. When the chairman asked me to help out I thought they needed a bit of help and somebody to steer the ship.
"I think the players have responded, it's been a great response from them and I know some of them from beforehand.
"I can see now, having met them for just one day, why they did so well last year. They got results when nobody expected them to get results and that's the kind of lads they are.
"There are no big-time Charlie's here and that's very pleasing.
"I think it just fits like a glove here, everything is in place."
