But Palace clear-out could help rivals Wanderers beat the transfer deadline by 15 minutes when they persuaded First Division rivals, Crystal Palace, to let them borrow midfielder Jamie Fullarton for the rest of the season.

The 24-year-old Scot has been recruited to put some much-needed bite into the Reebok midfield.

But the 11th hour deal, which brought a dramatic end to weeks of searching, might have unwittingly helped give Bradford City an advantage in the promotion race.

As a result of the day's comings and goings, the Bantams - currently six points ahead of Wanderers and strengthened by the arrival of former Manchester United and England midfielder Lee Sharpe - take on a severely weakened Palace side at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

In addition to Fullarton, the cash-strapped Londoners yesterday loaned out strikers Lee Bradbury and Andy Turner to Birmingham and Wolves respectively, and defenders David Tuttle, Andy Linighan and Jamie Smith to Charlton, QPR and Fulham.

"I'm delighted to get Jamie Fullarton in because he'll give us something different in midfield," Colin Todd said after registering the loan deal at 4.45 yesterday afternoon. "But I can't say I'm happy that Palace have let so many players go when they have Bradford to play at the weekend."

Fullarton, who made his name with St Mirren and arrived at Selhurst Park via French club Bastia, made 25 appearances in the Premiership last season and, although out of favour during the ill-fated Terry Venables regime, won back his first team place when Steve Coppell was re-instated.

Todd, who earlier in the day had secured the signature of goalkeeper Steve Banks from Blackpool for a knock-down £50,000, thought he was going to miss out on Fullarton as he had on a string of midfield targets. Coppell was reluctant to let the player go but is believed to have come under financial pressure to reduce his wage bill.

Twenty-four hours earlier, the Palace boss had said: "Nothing's likely to happen. It could well be that we are left with a strong squad, which would be good for me."

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