May 22 2003

Simon Jordan

Palace chairman Simon Jordan could be set to name his fifth managerial appointment in time for Friday's Fans' Forum at Selhurst Park.

After a turbulent season which saw Trevor Francis sacked and Palace finish in fourteenth place in Division One, Jordan is sure to meet a hot reception when he faces the club's fans, with the new manager high on the agenda.

Jordan may use the occasion to make an announcement following weeks of speculation about who would get the job.

The odds on Palace stalwarts Steve Kember and Terry Bullivant being offered the job permanently have shortened to 4/5 favourite, but Tuesday's announcement that David O'Leary (and not Bryan Robson) has succeeded Graham Taylor as Aston Villa boss could see Robson come back into the reckoning.

Last week Robson waxed lyrical about taking over at Villa. He said: "I would be going there to get them in the top six."

Whether his interest in that job will put Jordan off or the former Manchester United captain was using it as a lever in his negotiations with Palace remains to be seen.

Former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams is still in the running and is believed to have spoken to Jordan.

Having captained Arsenal under George Grahamn and Arsene Wenger, Adams is seen by many fans as the imaginitive choice, and unlike other candidates like Oldham's Iain Dowie, and Rotherham's Ronnie Moore, signing Adams would not involve a compensation payment.

Chris Coleman's appointment as Fulham manager has also seen George Burley re-emerge as a candidate.

Croydon Guardian