June 20 2004

Simon Jordan

Chairman Simon Jordan said he'll never sell up to former chief Ron Noades, despite wanting to walk from Selhurst Park.

Jordan, who is the Premiership's youngest chairman, recently said he wanted to quit Palace due to the pressures involved in running a football club.

Now Noades is reportedly interested in buying back the Eagles after selling to Mark Goldberg in 1998.

He still owns Selhurst Park and could take over with former Chelsea chairman and good friend Ken Bates.

"I am as confident in my own mind as Jordan that I can run a football club as well as anybody else," said Noades.

"I have learned a heck of a lot as chairman of Palace and Brentford and I can advise any club on the right way to do things."

He added: "Ken and I can work together and my wife, Novella, and I are good friends with Ken and Susanna. "I would be delighted if Ken bought Crystal Palace. He has spent his life in football and he knows all the pitfalls in the game."

But Jordan told The People: ''So long as I've got breath in my body, I won't sell this club back to Ron Noades."