Crystal Palace assistant manager Mick Jones believes injuries played their part in Paul Ifill, John Oster and James Scowcroft`s departures from Selhurst Park.

The trio were among nine first-team players who were released - Ryan Carolan, James Dayton, Carl Fletcher, Scott Flinders, Jamie Smith and David Wilkinson were the others - along with second-year scholars Graeme Edwards and Kieron Thorp.

And Jones told the South London Press: "All three have been very unlucky with injuries at the wrong time for them.

"Scowie had two major pulls of his hamstring and it was hard for him to recover. Paul has had an on-off season and John's neck problem came at the worst possible time.

"But these things happen and you've just got to move on - all of them will get good clubs."