Palace appoint Kember

I firmly believe that our squad of players are capable of achieving promotion next season Steve Kember Crystal Palace manager

Steve Kember has been appointed the new manager of Crystal Palace with immediate effect.

Kember and his assistant Terry Bullivant have been in charge since Trevor Francis's dismissal in March.

Jordan said: "I looked at where we were and my stance was that Steve Kember and Terry Bullivant must be part of the management team, they must underpin the way we go forward.

"I looked at the situation and said `If I am so adamant that these guys are the mainstays of the management team, why is it I won't give Steve the job?'

"Why would I take a step back and start again with someone else who doesn't understand the culture and doesn't want half the players we have."

Jordan added: "I made the decision, not simply because it's an easy decision to make.

"If you make decisions that aren't necessarily the right ones you put yourself under pressure.

"I want nothing more than achievement and I am determined to get it."

Kember has a long association with Palace having played 295 games during two spells at Selhurst Park.

I expect us to get out of this miserable division next year Simon Jordan Crystal Palace chairman

The 54-year-old has also had two previous spells as caretaker manager - in 1981 and again in 2001 - in which he managed to save the Eagles from relegation.

"I am relishing the opportunity to take the role full time," Kember said of his appointment.

"I've made no secret that I've wanted to do the job over the past two or three years.

"I think I can do the job and I've got and excellent coach in Terry Bullivant and an excellent backroom staff.

"I firmly believe that the squad of players we have here will certainly be capable of achieving promotion next season.

"The chairman has already made his ambitions public and my ambitions mirror his.

Palace finished 14th in the First Division last season, but Jordan has made no secret of his desire to get the south London club back into the top flight.

"I expect us to get out of this miserable division next year. Given the £30m I've spent, mediocrity is not acceptable," Jordan said before sacking Francis in March.

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