Hope springs eternal

Addicks fans woke yesterday morning to the memory and repercussions of our first home defeat, live on Sky to lowly Leyton Orient and yet most will have gone to bed last night with a warm feeling and renewed optimism about the future.

There was much to cheer yesterday; I went for a run during the afternoon amidst some weak winter sunshine which made me think about the warmer and brighter days to come. Not long after I got home, news broke of Palace having gone into Administration. There are two distinct views we can take on this as Charlton fans and we look split between rejoicing and worrying about our own predicament.

The evening's fixtures then gave us more reasons to be cheerful. Both Norwich and Leeds raced into early deficits which lasted well into the second half. Leeds managed to get well and truly beaten 3-0 at Swindon and the stats tell you of a proper hammering - Swindon had 13 efforts on target to Leeds' one! The wobble continues and Leeds face a bouyant Colchester side at Elland Road on Saturday. Norwich managed to recover at Walsall with two late goals and we now find ourselves at a crossroad, hoping they too go into Administration or perhaps that they continue to beat everyone they play to deny rivals points.

In the Championship, QPR got a five goal pasting at high-flying Nottingham Forest which should result in someone being sacked if previous behaviour is anything to go by. I don't think they have managed to find a new manager yet, so presumably this result rules caretaker Mick Harford out. The win takes Forest level on points with the Toon who get the opportunity tonight to restore their lead at home, against, ahem, Crystal Palace. The result this evening might speak volumes for the potential affect of Administration in SE25.

Morale at Selhurst Park will have fallen off a cliff and it could yet spark some backs-to-wall defiance from their squad. Far more likely , in my view, is that they will implode. Neil Warnock made some flippant comments last night about bringing in bodies to replace departing players and the realisation that all of their efforts on the pitch this season towards a play-off finish have been chalked-off at a stroke, could yet prove fatal.

Palace drop to 20th and now hover four points above the drop zone. They have a run of fixtures against their relegation rivals which look easy on paper but these matches are now six pointers and any loss of form will hurt them.

I think I can speak for nearly all Charlton fans in saying we are all pleased to see this disaster befall Simon Jordan. The history between us is long and well known. His Boardroom spat with Richard Murray and the constant sniping at us and our club from the cover of his newspaper column have earned him this. The nation also had to suffer his unbearable arrogance on a series of Dragons Den where as a member of the panel of successful entrepreneur's he got the opportunity to sneer at start-up businesses, something he managed with far more relish than his colleagues.

In terms of laughing at the misfortune of Palace fans we appear split as I have I have said. Most have sympathy for the staff and small businesses who will be affected directly and we have personal experience of that through down-sizing if not Administration in recent years. There are those with some comfort in their hearts for the Honest Joes at Selhurst Park and the rest who think we should revel in their misfortune whilst we can.

I can't be a hypocrite over this. I have detested the majority of their self-important supporters for over 30 years. I was attacked as a 14 year old by bullying Palace fans after a match there in the 70's and spent five seasons being made to feel like a second-class citizen by patronising officials at their club and generally unwelcoming locals in and around their ground. I detest everything about their club and am delighted at the news. I for one wouldn't care a jot if they were wound-up properly and disappeared forever.

Our own financial situation remains parlous and, without investment, Administration stalks us too. It that comes to pass, however, it won't have anything to do with Palace's own failings and I don't believe in superstition or the tempting of fate. I also won't feel any better about it, should it happen, for not having celebrated the collapse of Crystal Palace. Who's laughing now? Me for one.