Crystal Palace's joint administrator Brendan Guilfoyle is looking forward to getting back to trying to sell the club after the distraction of having to replace Neil Warnock.

Warnock's much expected move to Queens Park Rangers on Monday meant Guilfoyle was tasked with finding his replacement, leading to the appointment of Paul Hart yesterday.

Five weeks since the Eagles were forced into administration by hedge fund Agilo, Guilfoyle is still searching for a buyer but is hopeful he can now concentrate on concluding a deal by the end of the this month.

"This has been an unwelcome distraction for me," he said.

"It's not something I wanted but I have dealt with it so now I can get back to concentrating on getting a preferred buyer I can share plans with.

"I am engaged with someone who is very close I think and they are asking for information.

"At the moment this one is a single party and they are represented by a city-based firm of accountants who I have met.

"By the middle of this month we are aiming for someone of preferred buyer status who can sit at the table with me and start to discuss the purchase of the club.

"To get to that status they need to do is prove they have £10m in a UK solicitor's account."