Clint Hill says Selhurst Park will always be special to him despite quitting Crystal Palace for QPR.

The 31-year-old defender has followed ex-boss Neil Warnock and skipper Shaun Derry across London, admitting that securing his future forced his hand.

Hill said: "There was obviously some emotion leaving Palace because of last season and what we went through. You couldn't help but feel part of something.

“I had some great times at Palace.

“When the gaffer (Neil Warnock) came and said 'listen, do you fancy coming to work with me again?' it was a massive relief to me that it was finally tied up and sorted.

“It's good to have a bit of security. I wasn't the only one, there were a few of us in limbo with no one really to speak to regarding a new contract.

“We just didn't know what was happening - it was a scary place three or four weeks ago."

But the defender harbours no resentment towards the CPFC2010 consortium and instead looks back on the situation with understanding for the problems the group themselves were encountering.

He added: "It was really tough for them - they couldn't really give you any answers.

"It would have been nice to have been kept a bit more up to date but I don't think they could have done it any other way unfortunately.

"It was just a one-off situation that happened and I'm so grateful it has been sorted out now and all our efforts from last season weren't in vain."

Hill was a key and inspirational figure in Palace’s desperate relegation battle that culminated in a last day showdown with Sheffield Wednesday.

"When that final whistle went at Sheffield Wednesday and we stayed up, it was such a special moment for me,” he said.

“Especially after everything that happened in the three or four months before that, it’s a special achievement,” he insisted.

"There was a lot of stress and pressure on people but the lads had passion and belief and the outcome was the biggest high."

And Hill is already relishing his return to Selhurst Park next term and going up against a club in much better condition.

He added: "I've already looked at when the game is and I'm looking forward to it, I really am.

"I'll walk out at Selhurst Park with a smile on my face knowing that the club have done well and survived.

“They've got a manager, a chairman and it looks like it is going in the right direction, which is really good to see."