May 14 2001

Simon Jordan

Crystal Palace supremo Simon Jordan has revealed today that he was forced to part company with Alan Smith and Ray Houghton due to player pressure. The duo was sacked after the Wolves defeat following a string of poor results.

Simon Jordan has admitted that he planned to wait until the end of the season before making a decision on the duo's future, but the side's poor form with just two games remaining forced him act.

The chairman also said that Smith deserved a chance to put things right but ultimately failed.

Jordan said: "He was unpopular and I can understand why he was unpopular, he gave me his best. In the end I thought getting rid of Alan and Ray would have given the players a ten per cent lift.

"Alan lost the players, they felt there were things being said in the media that weren't being said to them.

"The end product was that they didn't want to play for him. I have to make sure that the new manager will get the players fit and firing for the start of the new season."

Also today, it has been reported that Simon Jordan has stepped up his bid to secure the Selhurst Park freehold from Ron Noades.

Jordan, however is not willing to pay the price asked by landlord Noades.

The Palace chairman commented: "I think Ron Noades will sell the freehold of Selhurst Park, but I will wait for the right time. There is no way I'll pay him the £12million he's asking for.

"The proper value is £6million and somewhere along the line Ron and I have to be sensible and do business."