KEITH Millen will be in charge of Crystal Palace's game at Aston Villa on New Year's Day.
Alan Pardew is locked in talks with the Eagles about becoming their new manager after Newcastle United allowed him to do so.
Millen says it has been business as usual at the club's training ground as they prepare for the trip to the west Midlands.
"I spoke to the chairman last night at about 11.30pm and he said Newcastle had made a statement about compensation being agreed," he said.
"We've been given permission to speak to Alan. That's all I've been told, and that remains all I know.
"The chairman told me to prepare for Aston Villa. We have to stay focused.
"If the deal for Alan is done then great. If not, we carry on. That is as much information as I have.
"We've told the players and staff that and we'll continue with our work.
"We were discussing the QPR game in training, which was a terrific response from the players after Neil leaving, and we've moved on now.
"They've been through it, the lads, a few times now. They see the speculation on the TV and get asked.
"There's the usual player banter, but they were in a good frame of mind this morning.
"They had a good rest yesterday and were in again today. They are a resilient group.
"We've started doing our work for Villa, and we have Dover on Sunday.
"I said to the chairman I can do the job. He knows me well enough and realises that now. We've not had that discussion since."
By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)
