Fitz Hall has revealed the departure of Iain Dowie from Selhurst Park was a major reason behind his decision to leave Crystal Palace to join Wigan Athletic.

The 25-year-old defender completed his reported £3million move to the JJB Stadium on Monday after a two-year spell with the Eagles.

Dowie, who gave Hall his first professional contract while manager of Oldham Athletic, brought the Walthamstow-born centre back to Selhurst Park in a £1.5million deal from Southampton following the Eagles promotion to the Premiership.

But after Dowie's departure to Charlton Athletic last month, Hall felt the time was right to move to pastures new.

"It played a part in my decision," said Hall. "He was the main reason why I left Southampton to join Crystal Palace.

"But he left and that's football. If he was still there I would have found it hard to leave."

Despite having a strong desire to play in the Premiership, Hall insists leaving was the Eagles was not done by his own accord.

"I didn't request the move," he said: "Basically the club received a lot of money for me and it was something which suited both parties."

New Eagles boss Peter Taylor has wasted no time in lining-up Hall's replacement by going back to his former club Hull City and making a £750,000 bid for Tigers centre back Leon Cort.

The 26-year-old is very much in the Hall mould and is said to be tempted for a move back to his London roots and be reunited with Taylor who brought him to the KC Stadium from Southend in 2004.

Hall's departure leaves Taylor with a £11million war chest to build a promotion winning team but according to the now departed defender, his most important task is to make sure there are no more major departures from Selhurst Park this summer.

Hall said: "With the players still at the club they should do well but if anybody else goes it could be a different situation.

"They've taken a lot of money in from the sale of AJ and me to spend on other players so if the right ones are brought in they'll certainly be in with a shout."

Hall's two years at Selhurst Park were filled with many highs and lows such as battling against the Premiership big boys and coming eight minutes away from staying-up, and last season's play-off heartbreak.

Hall says the experience of playing his first season in the Premiership is something he will always remember.

Hall said: "Playing in the Premiership with Palace was the highlight. It was my first real run in the Premiership and I was playing at Selhurst Park with my mates and we nearly stayed up.

"We showed we could compete with the best. We gave it a real fight right to the end."

Ironically fighting was the last thing Hall will be remembered for in a Palace shirt after his scuffle with Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd during Palace's play-off semi final second leg which sparked a 40-man brawl.

The speed of which his teammates arrived on the scene to aid Hall during the brawl summed up the team spirit within the squad and the defender admits he will miss that close bond.

"I'll miss a lot of things. I had some good times there with Bob Dowie, Iain Dowie, John Harbin and the players," he added.

"I've spoken to most of them on the phone and I'll probably drive by the training ground to say the rest if my goodbye's. I'll keep in touch with a lot of the lads."