A Right Royal Mess At Palace

In this day and age with money being thrown at players like Ronaldo and Rooney et al, there’s enough money in what used to be called “The Beautiful Game” – not for the likes of Crystal Palace, another famous side that fall foul to financial problems…Palace were sitting only two points off the play-offs at lunchtime today, they now see themselves staring at a 10 point deduction and relegation battling needs to commence, star players will no doubt be sold off and an what was lokoing likely to be a fairly decent campaign, is now looking like a battle for survival.

The club have reported debts of around £30million and are due in court tomorrow to face a winding-up order from HM Revenue and Customs. The move into administration means they will be deducted 10 points by the Football League.

Wednesday’s fixture then will be an interesting one from all angles, Palace with their future uncertain may capitulate under the disappointment and stress involved, it could go against us, the players now realising that all performances may lead to job security elsewhere – whatever happens, this article really isn’t about the game.

It’s about why this kind of thing can happen in modern football, there should be some protection on clubs, wage caps and possibly the Premier League is now the mother of all evils.

Don’t get me wrong, I want to see Newcastle United back at the top, playing against the likes of Man Utd etc are what all teams strive for. But, the money involved in the Prem and the lure of big bucks for players is making a mockery of the lower leagues.

You just have to look at players that are in the game, highlighting Kilgallon, hanging on for a Premier League club to come in and the view to earn more money, I suppose you can’t blame the players, I mean, their careers are short compared to ours, and earning 40-50k per week will obviously be a struggle to live on, let alone the reported 130k’s that the “superduperstars” are on.

Don’t ask me why I am writing this article, I honestly don’t know, I have no affinity to Palace but tomorrows result aside, I genuinely feel their disappointment.

My way of thinking is that the fans are disappointed but, Gordon Law editor of holmesdale.net, unofficial Palace website thinks different;

“You’re always going to have more chance of a buyer coming along and picking up the club for a knockdown price while it’s in administration than in normal circumstances where there are significant debts.

“In some ways it might be a good thing as the debts will be gone and we might get someone who will be able to take us forward.

“From a football point of view, losing 10 points takes us fifth from bottom so it will all be about staying up.

“I’m looking at it in a very positive light – it’s not all gloom and doom.

“Precedent is a good thing and there are plenty of clubs who have come through this stronger.”

Anyway, whatever happens, I wish Palace and their fans the best of luck for the future, tomorrow will be about the players on the pitch, and that’s all that we should need to worry about – All the best Palace!

PS – Can we have Moses?