May 2 2013

Simon Jordan

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has taken a swipe at the club's current owners.

Jordan, who guided Palace to the Premier League and then administration during his tenure, is still bitter at how his reign ended three years ago.

Recent accounts show the promotion-chasing Eagles are on a firm financial footing with the club's board eager to ensure it lives within its means so it doesn't almost go bust again.

However, Jordan believes the owners should be ploughing the proceeds of Wilfried Zaha's £15million transfer to Manchester United into the team instead of keeping some back to clear debts and invest in the club's infrastructure.

He told the Footballers' Football Show: "I see players that I developed being sold for large amounts of money and not being reinvested back in the team and that disappoints me for the supporters.

"It disappoints me for the fans that come to that club and spends fortunes over the years and I think deserve a little better.

"For me watching it from the outside in with the guys that own it now, [a dream scenario would be play-offs] watching them play Brighton perhaps or playing Bolton with Dougie Freedman.

"It's my old club and I want the very best for the fans, I don't extend that elsewhere and I look forward to the fans enjoying success.

"It's my team. It doesn't hurt the same when they lose. I spent 10 years running that football club and put £30m, £40m, £50m into it and have very strong views about what happened there."