Crystal Palace fans launched a protest against its current financial turmoil at their home ground, Selhurst Park, as it becomes clear the South London club are on the brink of extinction.
The demonstration, which took place at 3pm on bank holiday Monday and lasted for just over an hour, saw fans protest against the club being placed in administration with some supporters blaming former chairman Simon Jordan.
It appeared the takeover by CPFC 2010 looked to be gathering pace when a deal was struck with Agilo, a hedge fund that placed Palace into administration in January, but it has stalled. The main problem, which had looked to be resolved surrounds the ownership of Selhurst Park, which is owned by PricewaterhouseCoopers who are selling the ground on behalf of Bank of Scotland.
The Bank of Scotland, which is owned by Lloyds TSB, had looked to have struck an agreement but in a statement released by the CPFC 2010 consortium the contract is ‘unworkable’.
The CPFC 2010 consortium which is fronted by wealthy fans Martin Long and Steve Parish have been given until 3pm June 1st to come to an agreement or Agilo will begin to liquidate the club and its assets.
After a member of the supporters trust announced this on a megaphone to the protesting fans he assured them that this did not mean the club was ‘dead’. The certain member of the supporters trust also confirmed that "it is nothing to do with money" and that "there are just a few technical clauses that don’t need to be there".
But the creditors want guarantees that Selhurst Park will not be sold on to a property developer and therefore cause them any embarrassment which is why CPFC 2010 have agreed to an ‘anti embarrassment’ clause that will allow the bank to receive a further return if Selhurst Park creates greater value.
The Protest
Photos of supporters protesting outside Selhurst Park and in the Holmesdale end taken by myself. Click on fullscreen to view.
Fans continued to protest with banners reading: “Save our club,” “105 years of history - don’t die without a fight” and aimed most of their anger at creditors Agilo, Lloyds TSB and the Bank of Scotland.
While the protest was free from violence fans did break into the ground and took up residence in the Holmesdale end – the loudest stand in the ground – and continued to chant.
There was a mixture of opinions from the fans with some blaming Simon Jordan while others criticised previous owner Ron Noades.
But regardless of who is to blame it is clear that all Palace supporters should be very worried about the direction the club may take if an agreement cannot be reached by 3pm tomorrow.
However, the supporters trust member does feel confident that an agreement will get sorted out as the CPFC 2010 are determined to see the deal through but admits the longer it goes on the worse the situation becomes.
He said: “The further it goes on the more harder it becomes for whoever buys the club to pick up the pieces. The worst-case scenario is the club being liquidated but the money contributed by the fans would go towards a new club set up like AFC Palace."
Tuesday will be a massive day for Crystal Palace football club but hopefully it will be one that Eagles fans can look back on with happiness and I dearly hope that an agreement can be made.
Video, taken by myself, of some Palace fans that managed to get to the Holmesdale end and continue their protest.
Audio of fans singing to follow...
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