February 18 2004

Crystal Palace

Having had to settle the contracts of three of his six managers, it is understandable that chairman Simon Jordan was cautious in only giving Iain Dowie an 18 month deal.

It was the prudent thing to do when appointing a manager who had never been tested at this level, and Dowie understood that.

But Palace’s phoenix-like rise up the division to verge of the play-offs has inevitably brought Dowie’s innovative and infectious managerial methods to national prominence. He is one of the best young managers in the country, so it was only a matter of time before speculation started.

That it is Southampton, the club where Dowie spent the longest spell of his journeyman career, makes it particularly worrying, especially for fans who experienced desertion so recently, when Steve Bruce packed his trunk for Birmingham.

So it was good to hear Dowie laughing off the Saints links as speculation and reiterating his determination to bring success to Palace, where he has "great rapport" with the fans.

But surely, even after just eight weeks, the chairman will have seen enough to offer an improved extension to the club’s biggest asset. With the security of longer deal, Dowie could move his family down from Bolton and make the prospect of future upheaval a remote one.

The second biggest asset, now Division One’s top scorer, AJ is set to be offered a new double your money deal, which is great news. But let’s face it, it’s all good with Palace at the moment!

Join me from Pride Park on Saturday as Palace bid for a record sixth successive away win against the struggling Rams.

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