Dowie's future in doubt.

K Jay

Dowie's Palace future in doubt

Iain Dowie's future as manager of Championship outfit Crystal Palace was in doubt on Saturday night.

The 41-year-old Dowie is scheduled to appear at a press conference alongside chairman Simon Jordan on Monday, with Eagles striker Clinton Morrison on Saturday confirming the two recently fell out.

Whether that conference has been called to confirm the pair have smoothed things over, or to announce Dowie's departure from the club he began managing in December 2003, remains to be seen.

But it is believed Dowie is keen to be allowed to talk to south London neighbours Charlton about their managerial vacancy after Alan Curbishley ended his 15-year tenure at The Valley, while he has also been linked with Preston, whose manager Billy Davies has been given permission to speak to the Addicks.

Dowie could favour a return north as his family live in Lancashire.

Morrison said: "Somebody from a high authority told me that he [Dowie] had had a bit of barney with the chairman.

"Hopefully, with whatever has happened between Iain Dowie and the chairman, it can be sorted.

"It would be so disappointing if the manager who brought me in moves on, particularly as it would mean another change - and Palace have a tendency to change their manager."

Davies has emerged as the front-runner for the vacant Charlton job after an approach to speak to Colchester's Phil Parkinson was rejected and Hull boss Peter Taylor pulled out of the selection process, stating he preferred to stay with the Championship club.

Davies has guided Preston to the play-offs in the last two seasons to enhance his reputation and the Lilywhites granted him permission to speak to the Premiership club.

Preston chairman Derek Shaw confirmed: "The club felt that if permission had not been granted, like is often the case, things could have turned sour so we felt it was in the best interests of both parties to allow talks to take place."

However Colchester, who were promoted to the Championship this season, turned down the Addicks' request to hold talks with Parkinson.

A statement read: "The Us have refused approaches from Premiership team Charlton Athletic, as well as Championship sides Ipswich Town and Derby County - a position which all three clubs have accepted."

I had a sig, once.

Tyler Durden

Surprising as it may seem, a lot of CPFC fans are unhappy with Dowie's management this season. He had a squad, coming down narrowly from the season before, that was as good if not better than any other in the division. Because of the support of his Chairman he was allowed to keep all the players he had (the one exception being Routledge who was out of contract and nothing could be done about....besides he was replaced by McAnuff who most feel has been a better player than Routledge). Not only that, but he was also allowed to spend £4m on new players following relegation. He was also given the funds to keep an England international centre forward on the books. What other relegated sides have had this kind of backing and investment to try and go back up.

The fact that we didn't is not the only concern, these things happen. What is more unforgiveable given the price of football thesedays and the division we were in is that over the course of the whole season we had maybe 3 or 4 entertaining games. Not classics, just entertaining. Our quality of football was poor. As the division itself is very poor, we ended up 6th.

Dowie is a top guy for coming into a club and picking it up and getting it pulling in the right direction. But ultimately, his picking of the same favourites (despite their form) his insistence on playing a long ball game (our main centre forward is 5 foot 7 and we don't even have a 6 foot forward on the books) that didn't suit the players he had, his very poor use of the money he has had (£4M last summer on Morrison, Macken and Ward) and the sheer lack of entertainment value all season have conspired against him.

I'd probably prefer to see him stay for now since the club is always going through managers too quickly for one reason or another, but if it's been decided that he's going there honestly isn't going to be some sort of uproar from the fans. At both his clubs (Oldham and Palace) his 1st seasons have been excellent so I'm sure wherever he goes he'll start very well since his methods kick start a club, but maintaining the drive is another thing altogether.

Nationwide, people have a much much higher opinion of his abilities than those that see what is on offer week in week out. Someone is spinning his abilities extremely well.