27-07-2000, 07:05 PM
Adder tomorrow@
Mikael Forssell will sign for Crystal Palace on a one-year loan deal today (Friday).
And the club were also close to finalising the purchase of a defender as the Advertiser went to press yesterday (Thursday).
Palace persuaded Chelsea to let Forssell go despite rival interest from Charlton Athletic, who were linked with a £2m bid for the Finnish international striker. Eagles chairman Simon Jordan regards Forssell’s arrival as a done deal.
His arrival will be a massive boost for manager Steve Coppell who was delighted with Forssell’s displays at the end of last season.
It will also please fans eager for news of more signings after a worrying start to the pre-season friendly programme.
Forssell relished the time he spent on loan with the Eagles in the spring and it was this which gave them the edge over Charlton. He has a good relationship with Coppell and respects his managerial skills.
Forssell accepts that his first-team chances at Chelsea this season would have been limited with the likes of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Gianfranco Zola ahead of him in the pecking order.
Jordan is aiming to make four new signings before the opening match at Blackburn on August 12.
And he is prepared to invest heavily in fresh talent for the Eagles. He believes next season could see Palace buy as many as 12 new players.
That promises exciting times for supporters who have become sullenly used to seeing the club’s top talent sold for a pittance.
Jordan has spoken to Coppell and targets have been identified to strengthen both the midfield and the defence.
Jordan is refusing to specify which players he is chasing. But he acknowledges that Palace have had three approaches for Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole turned down, and that they have shown interest in bringing Sun Jihai back from Dalian Wanda.
But a further move for Jihai is now unlikely because of his extensive international commitments.
Jordan added: "We have knocked on the door three times. Steve rates Ashley, and Ashley likes Steve. But if they are not willing to sell there is nothing we can do."
Arsenal coach George Armstrong believes Cole has a strong chance of earning a first-team place with the Gunners this season.
Jordan was disappointed by friendly defeats against Crawley (5-1) and Reading (4-0) but is not attaching too much significance to them. "They were bad results, but no big deal. The squad needs to be strengthened, but you don’t win anything in dress rehearsals.
"It was instructive for me because I now know we need some more investment during pre-season. I need to spend a little bit more.
"We have some deficiencies. We have a young team which in some ways was lucky to avoid relegation last season, but they deserve a lot of credit for that. The performances in these games will not be reflected in the final product."
Jordan acknowledges that persuading players to join Palace so soon after they have left administration could be difficult. "Getting players in is not just a funding issue. Sometimes you are prepared to pay big money to get them here but they are not prepared to come."
Palace will seek to bring in big-name free transfers to add experience to the side and attract fans back to the stands.
The club have considered the possibility of approaching Ian Wright. But he recently announced his retirement from football and Jordan knows that his television show is a big drain on his time and energy.
Palace have secured defender Andy Linighan and midfielder Jamie Fullarton on new one-year deals. As predicted in the Advertiser, both signed last Friday.
Jordan is also talking to striker Clinton Morrison and midfielder Hayden Mullins about improved contracts. Both are already tied to the club by their current deals.
"I don’t have to talk to them about contracts yet. The fact that I am doing so now shows I want to secure their futures."
Jordan is not demanding that Palace reach the play-offs this season. He knows that rebuilding the club will take time.
But he is looking for them to finish in the top ten and develop a clear springboard for a promotion challenge in 2001-2002.
"If we are not in the play-offs next season I won’t be crying. We need to improve a lot of things at the club and it is not a 12-month job.
"However we have a season ahead of us where we can give a lot of commitment back to the fans. They will notice a change in the way the players conduct themselves, and treat them. They will also notice value-for-money around the ground."
Palace are looking for another training ground less than a month after starting to use a new base in Beckenham.
Chairman Simon Jordan believes the Eagles’ current base in Copers Cope Road may not be the right place to prepare for matches.
He is already exploring at least two alternative sites, also believed to be in south London. Although Palace still have a lease on Streete Court, it is unlikely that they will return there in the immediate future.
Jordan wants a training ground which will give players everything they need to work hard, and which will also induce parents to let their children join the club’s academy.
"I’m not saying we can’t do anything with Beckenham but it is not my ideal facility. But when Phil Alexander chose it he was in a situation where he had to do something," said Jordan.
"I do have a couple of other places in mind but it depends on what deal can be done, and whether I want to buy or lease," he concluded.
Stand finished in
double-quick time
Work on the Arthur Wait stand will be finished today (Friday). Fears that the stand would not be open in time for the start of the season have haunted Palace all summer. But when Jordan took over three weeks ago he insisted that the job must be completed.
The stand now has a new roof and will be available for Wimbledon’s opener against Tranmere at Selhurst on August 12.
Malcolm Allison could make an emotional return to Selhurst for Palace’s first home match of the season against Queens Park Rangers on August 20.
Jordan plans to invite him as a guest and is also hoping many of the Second Division championship side of 1979 will be there.
Palace are away to Banstead Athletic on Tuesday in a testimonial match for the non-league side’s long-serving midfielder Keith Ward. The game kicks off at 7pm. Banstead’s Merland Rise ground is near Tattenham Corner station.
Palace diary: Saturday, July 29. First-team friendly: Millwall v Palace (The New Den, 3pm); Carshalton Athletic v Palace XI (Colston Avenue, Carshalton, 3pm); Leicester City under-19s v Palace under-19s (12.30pm). Tuesday, August 1. First-team friendly: Banstead Athletic v Palace (Merland Rise, 7pm). Thursday, August 3: Maidenhead United v Palace XI (York Road, 7.45pm).
Mikael Forssell will sign for Crystal Palace on a one-year loan deal today (Friday).
And the club were also close to finalising the purchase of a defender as the Advertiser went to press yesterday (Thursday).
Palace persuaded Chelsea to let Forssell go despite rival interest from Charlton Athletic, who were linked with a £2m bid for the Finnish international striker. Eagles chairman Simon Jordan regards Forssell’s arrival as a done deal.
His arrival will be a massive boost for manager Steve Coppell who was delighted with Forssell’s displays at the end of last season.
It will also please fans eager for news of more signings after a worrying start to the pre-season friendly programme.
Forssell relished the time he spent on loan with the Eagles in the spring and it was this which gave them the edge over Charlton. He has a good relationship with Coppell and respects his managerial skills.
Forssell accepts that his first-team chances at Chelsea this season would have been limited with the likes of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Gianfranco Zola ahead of him in the pecking order.
Jordan is aiming to make four new signings before the opening match at Blackburn on August 12.
And he is prepared to invest heavily in fresh talent for the Eagles. He believes next season could see Palace buy as many as 12 new players.
That promises exciting times for supporters who have become sullenly used to seeing the club’s top talent sold for a pittance.
Jordan has spoken to Coppell and targets have been identified to strengthen both the midfield and the defence.
Jordan is refusing to specify which players he is chasing. But he acknowledges that Palace have had three approaches for Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole turned down, and that they have shown interest in bringing Sun Jihai back from Dalian Wanda.
But a further move for Jihai is now unlikely because of his extensive international commitments.
Jordan added: "We have knocked on the door three times. Steve rates Ashley, and Ashley likes Steve. But if they are not willing to sell there is nothing we can do."
Arsenal coach George Armstrong believes Cole has a strong chance of earning a first-team place with the Gunners this season.
Jordan was disappointed by friendly defeats against Crawley (5-1) and Reading (4-0) but is not attaching too much significance to them. "They were bad results, but no big deal. The squad needs to be strengthened, but you don’t win anything in dress rehearsals.
"It was instructive for me because I now know we need some more investment during pre-season. I need to spend a little bit more.
"We have some deficiencies. We have a young team which in some ways was lucky to avoid relegation last season, but they deserve a lot of credit for that. The performances in these games will not be reflected in the final product."
Jordan acknowledges that persuading players to join Palace so soon after they have left administration could be difficult. "Getting players in is not just a funding issue. Sometimes you are prepared to pay big money to get them here but they are not prepared to come."
Palace will seek to bring in big-name free transfers to add experience to the side and attract fans back to the stands.
The club have considered the possibility of approaching Ian Wright. But he recently announced his retirement from football and Jordan knows that his television show is a big drain on his time and energy.
Palace have secured defender Andy Linighan and midfielder Jamie Fullarton on new one-year deals. As predicted in the Advertiser, both signed last Friday.
Jordan is also talking to striker Clinton Morrison and midfielder Hayden Mullins about improved contracts. Both are already tied to the club by their current deals.
"I don’t have to talk to them about contracts yet. The fact that I am doing so now shows I want to secure their futures."
Jordan is not demanding that Palace reach the play-offs this season. He knows that rebuilding the club will take time.
But he is looking for them to finish in the top ten and develop a clear springboard for a promotion challenge in 2001-2002.
"If we are not in the play-offs next season I won’t be crying. We need to improve a lot of things at the club and it is not a 12-month job.
"However we have a season ahead of us where we can give a lot of commitment back to the fans. They will notice a change in the way the players conduct themselves, and treat them. They will also notice value-for-money around the ground."
Palace are looking for another training ground less than a month after starting to use a new base in Beckenham.
Chairman Simon Jordan believes the Eagles’ current base in Copers Cope Road may not be the right place to prepare for matches.
He is already exploring at least two alternative sites, also believed to be in south London. Although Palace still have a lease on Streete Court, it is unlikely that they will return there in the immediate future.
Jordan wants a training ground which will give players everything they need to work hard, and which will also induce parents to let their children join the club’s academy.
"I’m not saying we can’t do anything with Beckenham but it is not my ideal facility. But when Phil Alexander chose it he was in a situation where he had to do something," said Jordan.
"I do have a couple of other places in mind but it depends on what deal can be done, and whether I want to buy or lease," he concluded.
Stand finished in
double-quick time
Work on the Arthur Wait stand will be finished today (Friday). Fears that the stand would not be open in time for the start of the season have haunted Palace all summer. But when Jordan took over three weeks ago he insisted that the job must be completed.
The stand now has a new roof and will be available for Wimbledon’s opener against Tranmere at Selhurst on August 12.
Malcolm Allison could make an emotional return to Selhurst for Palace’s first home match of the season against Queens Park Rangers on August 20.
Jordan plans to invite him as a guest and is also hoping many of the Second Division championship side of 1979 will be there.
Palace are away to Banstead Athletic on Tuesday in a testimonial match for the non-league side’s long-serving midfielder Keith Ward. The game kicks off at 7pm. Banstead’s Merland Rise ground is near Tattenham Corner station.
Palace diary: Saturday, July 29. First-team friendly: Millwall v Palace (The New Den, 3pm); Carshalton Athletic v Palace XI (Colston Avenue, Carshalton, 3pm); Leicester City under-19s v Palace under-19s (12.30pm). Tuesday, August 1. First-team friendly: Banstead Athletic v Palace (Merland Rise, 7pm). Thursday, August 3: Maidenhead United v Palace XI (York Road, 7.45pm).