Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish re-assured fans the stadium redevelopment will go ahead even if the club are relegated and will begin ‘as soon as possible.'

Hovering above the relegation zone in 16th, Parish assured the redevelopment would go ahead regardless of what division the Eagles may find themselves in next season.

“It’s a long-term plan for the future of the football club,” said Parish.

“To be competitive, we need as much revenue as possible and other Premier League clubs have £20m-£30m more revenue than us. The long-term objective has to be to get into the top half of the table and stay there and we need to build this facility to help us do that”.

“As a club, we've got to get past relegation being the be-all and end-all.”

Plans to improve Selhurst Park got the backing of Croydon Council in April but the terms have yet to be agreed, pushing the hoped end of season start date back. Negotiations are continuing with the local authority relating to the purchase of land and houses that is a condition of planning permission.

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Once started, the project is likely to take up to three years to complete. The existing Main Stand will remain in full operational use throughout the build process, minimising the impact on the stadium capacity during the season.

The project, which is expected to cost between £75-£100m, will increase the club’s capacity by more than 8,000.

Other features include improved facilities for the disabled, a pitch compliant with UEFA regulation dimensions - opening possibilities of hosting tournament football, a club museum, and new community facilities.

Palace for Life Foundation

Speaking at the Generation Croydon conference Parish boasted of the effects the redevelopment will have on the community, giving the Palace for Life Foundation a new headquarters and allowing it to extend its extensive work with young people in the borough.

“We want to bring Selhurst Park alive during the day, it's not being used as much as we would like.

"The Foundation gets a lot of people off the streets and there will be a strong youth element to the way we use the site. There will also be medical uses and other secondary uses.”

Crystal Palace travel to Manchester United on Saturday.