MANAGER Tony Pulis wants to strengthen Crystal Palace on and off the field, with plans afoot to bring in new players and experienced backroom staff.

There are at last signs of life at Palace after a miserable start to the season, which saw Ian Holloway leave just months after leading the club up via the playoffs.

Palace moved off the bottom of the table with victory against West Ham in Pulis’ first home match in charge on Tuesday night and will be hoping for similar success when Cardiff visit Selhurst Park this weekend.

Belief is steadily growing in south London that they could yet beat relegation – a feeling that would be bolstered further with some wily January additions.

Pulis has been linked with a move for Blackburn defender Scott Dann and Peter Crouch at former club Stoke and confirmed his plans to make signings this January.

‘‘There are areas in the group that you think we certainly need to improve,’’ the Palace boss said.

‘‘But it is getting the right players and it is getting the right deals done. That is the biggest thing and that is always a worry for a manager.

‘‘The last thing I want to do is bring players in here who can’t and won’t start, who would just drag things down again.”