PFA involved in Palace spat

Kolinko
By Paul Holmes
August 19 2002

Crystal Palace keeper Alex Kolinko has called in the PFA over his spat with manager Trevor Francis.

Last week it was alleged that Francis punched Kolinko after the sub keeper laughed when Palace conceded a goal against Bradford. Francis was sent off and sent to the stands.

Kolinko is not happy with his manager but still wants to stay with the club. "I want to stay at Crystal Palace but it would be without Trevor. He punched me and could have broken my nose.

"If I'd punched Trevor I would have been finished in football here. I would have spent the last few days at home in Latvia watching TV."

Kolinko has now called in the PFA over the incident, the players association chairman Gordon Taylor says they are trying to defuse the situation. "There has been a problem and we are trying to come to a full understanding of what the player wants," said PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor.

"We want to get both parties round the table and see if they can have a working relationship."