November 6 2003

Simon Jordan

On appointing Steve Kember back in May, Palace chairman conceded he had got two of his managerial appointments wrong in Alan Smith and Trevor Francis, and one right in err… Steve Bruce.

Assuming that sacking Kember on Monday shows he got that one wrong too - Jordan now has a recruitment record all as impressive as Ade Akinbiyi’s strike rate (although to be fair the big man scored at the weekend!)

But results are all that counts in management and one win in 13 meant loyal Palace stalwarts Kember and Bullivant had to become Jordan’s sixth scalp in three years. Now we find ourselves back where we started, and the sense of deja vu is frightening.

The club is at yet another cross-roads, staring relegation in the face with an untried manager at the helm, no coach and a team lacking confidence and apparently desire.

The players woefully under-served Kember and chins at New Beckenham should be scraping the floor right now, but then they should have been busting a gut against Gillingham and Wigan.

Having been rescued from the authoritarian Francis era with the appointment of a "players’ manager", they must be wondering what is coming next, as the fans are.

If Jordan’s hasty appointment of substitute Kit Symons (ahead of Curtis Fleming) is any guide, we should not hold our breath for a big name.

George Graham, Bryan Robson and Glenn Hoddle are being touted, but even if they did come to SE25, the money they would want is unlikely to materialise.

Former Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear is available with coach Mick Harford and could work wonders on a shoe-string. It would allow Jordan to stop spending and after a clear out might see the wonderful crop of youngsters herald a new era at Palace.

Only time and Jordan will tell, but perhaps the most poignant question when assessing the candidates should be who would be willing to work with the chairman and take on what is now definitely a poisoned chalice.

Join me on Saturday for Kit Symons' first game in charge against Preston from 3pm.

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