CRYSTAL Palace were last night reeling after their manager, Dave Bassett, quit to become general manager of Nottingham Forest.

Bassett has become the first appointment made by Nottingham Forest's new owners - and will work as Stuart Pearce's `father-figure'.

Pearce will continue as caretaker player-coach, with Bassett available to offer support and advice.

Bassett said: "I'm going to be general manager, I'm not going to be selecting the team or coaching or deciding the tactics. Stuart Pearce is going to be doing that.

"He's happy for me to come in - had he not been I wouldn't be going to Nottingham Forest. He's happy for me to give him the support and experience he needs.

"I have known Stuart for quite a long time, It's going to be a joint situation but I am not stepping on his toes and I will be doing my best to help him."

A statement from Crystal Palace said: "Chairman Ron Noades has been left reeling at the decision and cannot at this stage give any indication who is going to be running team affairs in the immediate future."

A Forest spokesman confirmed the move, explaining: "He's been brought in to replace Alan Hill. He will be responsible for everything that Stuart Pearce doesn't have time to do.

"Stuart will still be in charge of all team affairs and Dave will be there to support him. It means Stuart can concentrate on keeping Forest in the Premiership."

Bassett had six successful years at Wimbledon, taking them from non-league obscurity into the top flight of football.

After a short spell at Watford he joined Sheffield United, and led them to promotion from the then third division to the first division in successive years. He left by mutual agreement after the Blades had been relegated and joined Palace 12 months ago.

He turned down the manager's job at Manchester City last year - ironically filled by former Forest boss Frank Clark.

Yesterday he felt the move to Forest was the right one for him. "It's a correct decision for Dave Bassett, for his career, professional and financial situation and also domestically.

"I am sorry to be going, I think when you leave a club you are always sad, whether it's your decision or whether you are sacked.

"Whilst I have made the decision to join Nottingham Forest as general manager I do leave a lot of good, fond memories behind," he said.

Meanwhile, Arsenal revealed yesterday that an exploratory operation on goalkeeper David Seaman's injured knee hash been successful, but he will not return to action for at least a month.

The 33-year-old goalkeeper entered hospital for an arthroscope probe which revealed a small tear in the cartilage, which has now been removed.

Leeds United are confident the launch of the club's own television station on August 9th will be a hit with fans.

Leeds' owners, the media and leisure company Caspian, say research has revealed sufficient demand for the cable channel to be profitable.

The station can't show live Premiership action as BSkyB hold the exclusive rights until 2001.

But subscribers will be offered highlights of league and cup games and re-runs of past games.

There will also be live coverage of first team friendlies, reserve and youth games and in the future should Leeds qualify European games could be shown live.

As well as the match action the channel will carry pre-match and post-match analysis of games, profiles, phone-ins and quizzes.

Caspian chairman Chris Akers said: "We've done a lot of research and there's clearly a market for this.