Parish contacted McNeil's partner before Palace move

Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish reached out to Dwight McNeil's partner before the midfielder's move to the club, according to BBC Sport.

The report says Parish made contact as part of the club's efforts to convince McNeil to make the switch. The details of the conversation have not been disclosed.

McNeil subsequently completed his transfer to Palace, and the club have not commented publicly on the chairman's involvement in the negotiations.

The contact underlines the importance Palace placed on securing the midfielder's signing.

Readers can find highlights of Palace's matches, including McNeil's appearances, in the related videos on this site.