November 27 2002

Simon Jordan

You know what they call people who think everybody's out to get them? Realists. But seriously folks, Jamesey is concerned about Simon Jordan's mental health

I am tempted to break my self-imposed vow not to comment on pure football matters in this column.

After witnessing Tuesday night's (Nov 26) pathetic display against Reading it appears to be "Normal Service Resumed" at Selhurst after our all-too-brief revival.

But much credit goes to Supa-Al's bargain basement blend of youth, experience and all-round doggedness. They came for a point, were given a silly goal, shut us out and went home with all the points.

In my last column I sent an open letter to our chairman Simon Jordan, politely I thought, pointing out how he could improve his relationship with supporters.

Unsurprisingly, I have received no reply. Mr Jordan is, it would seem, not interested in any views that do not coincide with his own. And his Reading programme notes give even more worrying signs of creeping paranoia.

I do not read the London Evening Standard but whatever it has published has incensed Mr Jordan to such a degree that he has banned the newspaper, and more specifically, the journalist Leo Spall, from the stadium.

He seems particularly upset at the idea of the reporter taking his "hospitality" and then writing critical articles.

After 40 years in the publishing racket, most of them as a journalist, the only hospitality I ever heard of inside football grounds, was a chair, a phone, a cup of tea and some Rich Tea biscuits - chocolate digestives if you were really lucky...

As a high-profile, young football chairman, you have to learn to take the flak, whether, in your opinion, it is fair or not.

In the democracy which we are proud to live in, unlike the poor souls in Iraq, Zimbabwe, Iran, Saudi-Arabia, and many more, press comment is uncontrolled as long as it is within the letter of the law.

Banning writers who offend you merely fans the flames. I expect Leo Spall's comments on Simon Jordan will be far more vitriolic now than formerly. So what has banning journalists from Selhurst Stadium achieved, apart from making the perpetrator look stupid?

And there is more paranoia lurking in the undergrowth when Mr Jordan's attacks the booing that greeted Tommy Black's substitution in the Grimsby game.

"Howls of derision" are just "bloody nonsense" says Mr Jordan. Grudgingly he allows that "people are obviously entitled to an opinion but it would be nice if it was constructive". Well, thanks a bunch, Simon. Damned decent of you.

And on the subject of Grimsby, there are some rather muddled comments on the "poor home attendance".

I do not know how many complimentary tickets were given away for that game, but a 20,000 gate for a low-profile fixture is unprecedented in my memory, even if inflated by freebies.

I think I had better shut up now. When I arrive for the Oldham Worthington Cup game, I don't want to be greeted by a posse of Palace minders, have my season card ritually snapped in half and be escorted out of the ground to join Leo Spall among the "Disappeared".

Email Jamesey with any of your comments to Jevans3704@aol.com