Dejected Warnock running on empty

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock is bracing himself for a taxing summer after admitting the club's coffers are completely empty.

Warnock is already planning for the new campaign after his side's faint hopes of reaching the Championship play-offs were finally extinguished by a 3-1 defeat at Barnsley last night.

Warnock has long been braced for a trying close season, with Palace owner Simon Jordan struggling to sell the club, and he now admits he will be relying on free transfers to pep up his squad.

He said: "The fans understand the financial situation. It's crucial we get five or six Bosmans this summer as I don't think we'll be able to pay any money out. I'm disappointed we're not in the play-offs but it's because we're not good enough and I don't like to be not good enough."

Warnock branded his side's defending "Sunday League standard" after they slumped to defeat at Oakwell, despite Shefki Kuqi's early opener.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce levelled shortly afterwards and Palace's misery was completed in the second period, with Lee Hills's own goal and a late third from Michael Mifsud.