Simon Jordan has weighed in on links between Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace, claiming it would be a major coup for the Eagles if they were to lure the Bournemouth boss to Selhurst Park, but suggested that Iraola might want to think twice given AFC Bournemouth’s more ambitious ownership.
Yesterday, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan and co-host on Talksport, spoke to Jim White about the links between Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace, and claimed that any move would not be "sideways", but equally it would not necessarily make sense for the Basque boss either.
He spoke at length about the differences between the Palace ownership and Bill Foley, and suggested that whilst some of the latter's statements might be outlandish, they do suggest ambition.
Bill Foley's Ambition for AFC Bournemouth
Jordan said: "Foley is an interesting character because he's very bold in his observations and most of the things he says are very thoughtful. He says things like, 'We can afford the wages of any other football club', which they can't, and we can do great things and we expect to head towards Europe... and potentially they can't"
He then went on to underline the reasons why Bournemouth potentially are struggling to get to the next level, as he continued: "Every time they get a star in their midst, someone comes along and buys them off them. And most of the time it's not because the club want to sell them, it's because the club put release clauses into players' contracts, and off they go, which makes it incredibly difficult for them to move the club up the levels that he would like them to potentially achieve - and possibly levels he's prepared to financially help them with".
The Differences in Ownership
Speaking on the difference between Foley's ownership and that of Crystal Palace, he explained that there is seemingly a disconnect between Glasner, the Palace chairman Steve Parish, and the American investors that fund it.
"Foley I think is prepared to back and finance, whereas I'm not entirely sure Parish hasn't got the money, the Americans are the ones that provide the cash - but clearly there's been a fallout and departure".
Glasner's "Damaged Reputation"
"I don't like Glasner's behavior, but the insight to riot that he exhibited was brought about by the failure to support him. How he voiced that failure and how he manifested it in the public domain I think was poor on his part and damaged his reputation."
Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs"He had produced a Palace team that had won the FA Cup that had steered him away from the car crash that Patrick Vieira had created for Palace. He did it well, wasn't backed in the first summer, but took it on the chin because he'd been there for five minutes. He came back the following season, got them going after keeping Mateta out the side for a bit because he wasn't fit. He then got Palace going, really punching hard and heavy in the league and in the FA Cup final, and his reward for that was to have the players sold from underneath him and the funds not redistributed and to give him an opportunity".
Why would Iraola go to South London?
He continued: "So why would Iraola, who is an ambitious manager that will be sought after by lots of football clubs of a higher standing than potentially Crystal Palace, look at what's happened to Glasner and go 'oh, I'll have some of that'."
"Glasner has taken you to a point where the world looks very bright for Crystal Palace and now it looks dark again because they've been told there's no ambition, whereas Foley to me feels like he's a more ambitious chairman and feels like he's more prepared to put some money behind it".
Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra"At the same time that you say 'well he sells his best players' - this is the challenge, because his I don't think he particularly wants to or accepts it as part of the DNA of his football club, but it's the reality of the industry that he's in"
He concluded by hinting that it would be a huge boon for Palace to land Iraola, but would be surprised if they managed it: "I think it'd be a massive if they do, he'll [Parish] have worked the oracle, and he's very good at doing these things, so I wouldn't put it past him to be able to achieve it. But I'd be very surprised if they can get him out of Bournemouth. They'd have done really, really well".