June 2 2004

Iain Dowie

Iain Dowie has vowed to create a "lasting legacy" at Crystal Palace as he turns his attention to staying in the Premiership, by Neil McSteen.

With less than eleven weeks to go until the start of the 2004/2005 season on August 14, Dowie wants to "create a club that is a regular Premiership team."

Having secured his club up to £30million in the richest club game in world football, Dowie insisted he would not lose sight of the bigger picture and spend a fortune on trying to stay up.

He said: "We are not going to go bananas now, we need to make sure this is a legacy which improves the club overall.

"We've got to use some of this money to be able to improve the club and playing side but also leave a legacy for years to come.

"The money can be used to improve the environment at the club, the training ground and facilities. That will create players that will take you onto the next level. If we act in the short term and spend it all on players, and we then get relegated it's as bad as we were. If we invest, even if we do get relegated, there's positive things to go forward."

Chairman Simon Jordan has promised Dowie funds to strengthen his squad, but rather than opting for flamboyant crowd pleasers, the Palace boss will recruit players with character and work ethic, capable of enduring fitness coach John Harbin's tough training regime.

He said: "If I'm looking at a list what my priorities will be, character is going to be very important and the type of lad he is. Whoever is the hardest working team, you generally find they are the best team in the league."

Dowie has five current players out of contract in Julian Gray, Michael Hughes, Aki Riihilahti, Kit Symons and Ben Watson, who should all now be offered new deals for the Premiership season.

He said: "You can't make a decision till you know where you are. Contracts you offer in the Premier League will be different to those you offer in the football league. At the same time some can and some can't do it in the Premier League, so you've got to ask that question."

Whatever the makeup of his squad, Dowie believes the start his team makes next season is crucial.

He added: "It's important that when you go up you've got to be difficult to break down. You got to make a good start. You look at all the sides who didn't start well and there isn't many who cracked on and had a good season."

Meanwhile Dowie is taking his former club Oldham to an employment tribunal over £80,000 he claims he is still owed for guiding the Latics to the Division Two play offs and the transfers of Fitz Hall and Josh Low.

The club's new owners insist Dowie's dispute is with former owner Chris Moore, who was in charge at the time. The case will be heard at a Manchester hearing on July 1.