Crystal Palace Financial Crisis Grows

Dean Nicholas
By Dean Nicholas Last edited 171 months ago
Crystal Palace Financial Crisis Grows

0112_selhurst.jpg
Selhurst Park
While things may be purring along nicely on the pitch for Crystal Palace — a 3-0 win at home to Watford on Sunday, in manager Neil Warnock's 100th game in charge, maintained a six-game unbeaten streak and lifted the club to within two points of the play-off places — away from the field things are looking dicey. Warnock has admitted that the players, staff and management will face a ten-day delay in getting paid after cash flow problems hit owner Simon Jordan; the players were only told after Saturday's win, which will have come as a downer after such a dominant performance.

Warnock insisted this was a temporary blip, and with another home game on Saturday, there's a financial fillip only days away — any lay Palace fans might want to buy a ticket and help the club out, not least because opponents Doncaster have yet to win an away game this season. However, Palace's problems are mounting: they're under a transfer embargo for not paying former players, they haven't paid outstanding rent on the ground for several months, and Jordan is desperate to sell yet unable to find a buyer for what, with the stadium owned separately, remains an unattractive buy.

This latest crisis proves that the grim spectre of administration is haunting the club this season, and all the on-field make-do and mend with a skeleton squad won't mean much if Palace sink beneath the ocean of debt that encircles them.

Last Updated 01 December 2009