Jordan to sue Dowie over Charlton move

Crystal Palace's then manager Iain Dowie congratulates striker Andy Johnson after a Premiership match at Palace's home ground Selhurst Park, London, April 2005. Palace chairman Simon Jordan is suing former manager Dowie after he joined south London rivals Charlton, just a week after walking out of Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan is suing former manager Iain Dowie after he joined south London rivals Charlton, just a week after walking out at Selhurst Park.

Jordan claimed Dowie "fraudulently" obtained a release from a one million pound (1.75 million dollars) compensation clause in his contract and a court representative tried to issue the manager with a writ as he spoke Sky Sports cameras.

"If he's under the impression he can leg me over in the way he has done, then he's sadly mistaken," Jordan told Sky Sports News on Tuesday.

Dowie was appointed as Alan Curbishley's replacement at Charlton, prompting a furious response from Jordan who believed the former Oldham boss only wanted to leave the club to be closer to his family, who still live in the north west.

Jordan added: "My football club waived compensation because he wanted to go back to the north.

"My repayment for that is for Iain to do exactly what he said he was not going to do."

Dowie, however, has publicly said he wanted to leave Selhurst Park for a "new challenge" and refused to be drawn into a war of words.

"I'm not going to let it sour a good day for me," he said after admitting he was delighted to be back in the Premiership.

"If that is what he feels then that is what he feels but it totally misrepresents the conversation I had with Simon and, to be fair, my wife witnessed two hours of it.

"I know I've got an agreement at home which says it was by mutual consent and I can live with myself, I can look him in the eye so that is all I can do.

Two seasons ago, Dowie managed the Eagles in the English top flight but could not prevent them from crashing straight back down to the Championship, ironically due to a last minute goal by Charlton against Palace.

"I'm here to talk about Charlton - this is a club that is doing a lot of great things including investing in African countries to set up a player conveyor belt," added Dowie.

Dowie insisted that, prior to leaving Palace, no discussions had taken place with Charlton.

"The first conversation I had with Charlton was two days after," he said. "I found them very enthusiastic and I was one of several people they interviewed.

"It's a job which doesn't come up too often. Charlton has a fantastic reputation, I think it's been earned over the years.

"It's a special place to work because they have got a history of being stable."

Charlton chairman Richard Murray was delighted to get his man. He said: "We're really excited about him joining."

The task of leading Charlton, who finished 13th in last season's Premiership, is one which Dowie is looking forward to starting, and he promised supporters that the team would attempt to play football with style.

He said: "They want to see me put a side on the pitch who play attractive football and hopefully we'll add to what Alan (Curbishley) brought."