Harbin joins up with Dowie

Iain Dowie has boosted his backroom staff with the appointment of top fitness coach John Harbin.

The highly respected trainer joins Palace from Oldham, marking Dowie’s first raid on his former club. He agreed a deal with the Eagles on Saturday.

Harbin’s name may be an unfamiliar one to many Palace fans, but he played an integral part in helping Dowie make such an immediate impact in management. The pair worked together in Dowie’s first season at Oldham to take the side into the 2002/03 Second Division play-offs.

Harbin is a top sports psychologist and has been credited with bringing in a range of innovative ideas during his time at Boundary Park.

One of Oldham’s potential new owners, Simon Blitz, told the Latics' official web site, “We are obviously sorry to see John leave Boundary Park. I think he has had a tremendous influence on the players during his time at the club and I would like to thank him for all his help.

“We offered John an improved contract in an effort to keep him, but we could not match the offer made by Crystal Palace.”