DUBLIN, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND - Wednesday, May 14, 2014: Liverpool's Martin Kelly in action against Shamrock Rovers during a postseason friendly match at Lansdowne Road. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Martin Kelly endures bizarre first day at Crystal Palace

Defender Martin Kelly completed his move from Liverpool to Crystal Palace on Thursday, but then saw his new manager Tony Pulis leave the club hours later.

Kelly, 24, joins the Eagles for a reported £1.5 million fee.

He said of the move:

“I would like to thank all the managers at LFC for making my wish from the age of 7 come true – playing for 1 of the biggest clubs in the world,’ he tweeted.

“Most of all would like to thank the fans for supporting me since my home debut against Lyon in Oct 2009 even through injuries always by my side.

“Now to start a new chapter of my football career at Crystal Palace a great club with unbelievable fans – excited already for the weekend.”

Kelly leaves his boyhood club having made a total of 62 appearances in since his debut in late 2008. Injuries plagued his progression to the first-team. He made 43 appearances in 2010/11 and 2011/12 combined, but just 15 over the last two years under Brendan Rodgers.

The Whiston born England international will now get the chance to rebuild his career and get regular football – although not with the manager he was expecting after Pulis’ unexpected departure just two days before the start of the new Premier League season.

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