Jordan denies Francis has Palace job
Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan today denied that he had made Trevor Francis the club's new manager.
But he indicated the former Birmingham chief was in pole position to take charge as soon as a deal allowing Steve Bruce to leave was completed.
Jordan said: "At this stage we have not appointed a new manager. When we do we will hold a press conference and I am not planning to do that today or tomorrow.
"We have been talking to a lot of people and I have made it clear that I would not poach another club's manager, so it would be stupid of me to say Francis was not among them. I think he is a good manager."
Reports today claimed Francis, who has been out of a job since leaving Birmingham last month, had been appointed and given money to spend on new players. But Jordan wants to clear up the situation with Bruce before he introduces a new man at Selhurst Park.
The former Manchester United captain was told by the High Court last week that he had to serve the nine-month notice period he had agreed to in his contract.
He has been put on "gardening leave" by Jordan and is not running the team but it is thought the chairman would allow him to sever his links with the club.
The court ruling means that will have to be done on Jordan's terms and Birmingham, who want Bruce to succeed Francis at St Andrew's, will need to agree a compensation deal.
They will also have to guarantee they will not attempt to buy Palace players or take backroom staff from the club.
The news that Francis is about to take over at Selhurst Park, however, may not please the club's fans.
They voted him their eighth most popular choice in an internet poll on Palace's official website. But they will be encouraged by reports that Jordan has tried to buy Brentford's midfielder Gavin Mahon and defender Darren Powell.
Caretaker-manager Steve Kember has tried to agree deals for both but the two clubs are some distance apart on valuation.
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