Realistically the ambition is to stay up every season, in order to fund the stadium improvements such as the Main Stand. The plans and application process for that cost circa 1 million quid, so there is a determination to get it done.

When Pardew was manager there was a clear and stated aim to try and win a cup, which was fun and nearly came off, but it made the league status a bit nervy for a few months.

Clubs outside the 'big 6' can't really say what their ambition is - even regular 8th placed Stoke went down eventually. I'm not sure Burnley expected to finish 7th etc

Simon Jordan and Mark Goldberg made loads of statements.
They were much better chairman.

This is arguably the best period in our history.

It's a sense of entitlement. Most of the 14 clubs outside the 'big six' realistically just want to stay on the Premier League gravy train.

Fulham managed 13 consecutive seasons, and in that time got to a Europa Final, which they lost. After 4 years out, they have managed to get back.

Stoke did 10 consecutive seasons, and in that time got to one FA Cup Final, which they lost.

This is our 6th consecutive season, and we've already had a (losing) final in that time. That is about par I'm afraid. Be realistic, be happy - Palace fans have never had it so go for a sustained period of time (bar the late 80's early 90s)

To put what we have managed into context, Palace's current run of 6 years in the top flight makes them the 10th longest established team there:

1/ Arsenal (1919)
2/ Everton (1954)
3/ Liverpool (1962)
4/ Man Utd (1975)
5/ Tottenham (1978.)
6/ Chelsea (1989)
7/ Man City (2002)
8/ West Ham (2012)
9/ Southampton (2012)
10/ Crystal Palace (2013)
11/ Leicester (2014)
12/ Bournemouth (2015)
13/ Watford (2015)
14/ Burnley (2016)
15/ Brighton (2017)
16/ Newcastle (2017)
17/ Huddersfield (2017)
18/ Wolves (2018.)
19/ Cardiff (2018.)
20/ Fulham (2018.)

It's as good as it's likely to get, and we are punching.

Edited by dorking (02 Jul 2018 6.49am)

Do you honestly believe that SP and the board want another relegation scrap or another start to the season like we had last year. You mention ambition I would say that that everybody that runs this football club have loads of ambition. All the talk and speculation was about the clubs accounts recently and now they have been published they show the club in a healthy position. How many other clubs in the Premiership can show the same.

Maybe Steve Parish has learnt his lesson and before making and come out with any statements all the “ t” crossed and the “i” dotted. Let’s just wait until the first ball is kicked at the start of the new season before judgement.
.

South London & Proud
Sometimes I really wonder if family are really worth it.
Because it doesn’t matter how time and affection you give
It’s never enough

Parish has said the finances to build a new main stand are already in place and isn't dependent on us staying up.

I have to say the summer isn't looking good at the moment and our business in January is looking worse than ever.

£50 mil is ringfenced. It’s going to cost nearer £100 mil. The ‘finances’ might be in place but the whole money in cash probably isn’t.

The whole rebuild of ground and club and eventual resale at a profit relies on prem football.

Parish is hardly likely to say anything other than a brief positive on this. PR is highly important.

COYP