Ambrose to save Palace (for a month or two)

I don't usually have enough spare time to waste it trawling through the message-boards of other clubs save for a quick look prior to playing us. So I haven't been on a Palace one for quite a while. I usually satisfy myself with Budgie's (and a few others) contributions on Charlton Life which are normally bearable and confined to debates involving Palace.

However, it would seem that Palace's ever-worsening financial situation is beginning to create some genuine fear and loathing amongst their fans following the news of their third transfer embargo of the season, the wage deferrals for staff and their poor showing at home to Doncaster on Saturday (which cost me a big win with Mr Coombes). The talk is of an impending fire-sale in January and the threat of dropping into the relegation scrap if they are forced into Administration. Amazing then to think that the jewel in the crown appears to be Darren Ambrose and they are predicting all sorts of ludicrous sums for him. Sorry but I can't see it. He may have finally realised he's in The Last Chance saloon but prospective buyers will see from his CV that he is someone content to muddle along when given any security of tenure.

The fact that Palace are in this mess is because Simon Jordan decided a couple of years ago to stop investing his own money and to effectively run the club at a loss against it's value. It looks like the value has all but gone and there hasn't exactly been a queue of volunteers forming to take on the task of doner. I am even more surprised that Jordan is allowing the club to continue to sink as the personal embarrassment must be excruciating for a prima dona who was once so keen to flash his new found wealth and status following the sale of his mobile phone business. The kudos he gained early on from becoming king at the palace has long since disappeared and he is in danger of joining the ranks of failed Palace Chairmen, Goldberg and Noades.

As we wallow in this, I realise that I would much rather see Simon Jordan skint than Crystal Palace. However, the man doesn't possess the personal integrity of other Chairman I can think of, and it certainly looks like Simes has cut his financial exposure to save what remains of his personal fortune. In the circumstances maybe I'll just have to make do with watching his reputation be trampled in the fire and Palace lurch from one crisis to the next. If that means Gold and Sullivan investing at the Valley rather than Selhurst Park, then so be it.