Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock has expressed his delight at capturing the signature of Darren Ambrose after admitting he has been chasing the former Charlton midfielder 'for years'.

As ExtraFootie told you on 2nd June, Ambrose had agreed a move to Selhurst Park on a two-year contract last month after the Addicks opted against offering the 25-year-old a new deal following their relegation from the Championship.

The talented midfielder, who moved to the Valley in a £1.5million deal from Newcastle in 2005, has made over 130 appearances during his time with the South-East London outfit and will now hope to recapture his best form under the guidance of experienced campaigner Warnock.

"I have been after Darren for years," Warnock told the club's official website. "I was even prepared to offer up to £1m before he went up to Newcastle in 2003 when I was at Sheffield (United).

"I have always thought he was a quality player and we have missed a dead-ball specialist since Ben Watson went.

"His dead-ball quality is very good and he can play five out of six positions whether that is 4-4-2 or 4-3-3.

"So he is very flexible and all I am asking him to do is play with a smile on his face because I think he has been down in the doldrums the last couple of years."