ALLARDYCE: POINTS STILL MEAN POUNDS

SAM Allardyce has urged Crystal Palace to maintain their motivation for Sunday’s trip to Manchester United so that the club can secure the potential £9.5 million prize money involved.

Palace’s Premier League status was secured with last weekend’s 4-0 defeat of Hull but they remain capable of finishing anywhere between 11th and 16th, meaning under the terms of the present television deal a significant bonus could be earned.

Sunday’s fixture is likely to test Palace’s desire now that survival is certain but, with United boss Jose Mourinho set to select a weakened XI with the following week’s Europa League final in mind, Allardyce has urged his players to consider consequences.

He is finally in a position to begin his preparations for next season, when he hopes to avoid another battle against relegation, and discussing how much Sunday’s game could affect that, he said: “The budget will get bigger if we can go up a couple of places.

“The chairman (Steve Parish) has pointed that out to me like every chairman I’ve worked for, which is always an important part of each year’s growth.

“So the higher you can finish in the league, the bigger and better the prize money, so if we can get a result at Old Trafford, then that will be fantastic.

“It’s pretty significant.” its