DowieGateDisgrace...........Court Day Four

Round Four - Day Four - Monday 14th May 2007

In Court today...

Former Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie entered the witness box in the High Court today (Monday) to deny suggestions that he set out to 'concoct a false story' about his reasons for leaving the club.

Dowie, contesting Palace's £1million compensation claim over his move to rivals Charlton, was challenged by Palace's barrister to explain discrepancies in his account of what happened.

John Davies QC pointed out that he (Dowie) had initially stated at a press conference that he had "no contact whatsoever" with Charlton before his departure from Selhurst Park on May 22 last year and that the first conversation he had with them was two days later.

That was not true, as was evident from subsequent disclosure of his mobile phone bills.
Dowie, 42, admitted he made factual mistakes at a press conference days after he left the club.
He told Mr Justice Tugendhat his initial recollection was incorrect, but his prior contact with Charlton was NOT about the managership.

His first call from Charlton regarding the manager's job was in fact on the evening of May 22.

Asked why he got his dates wrong, he replied: "We all make mistakes."

Mr Davies said: "Or was it because it was your first attempt to concoct a false story?"
Dowie replied: "No, there was no attempt to concoct a story. I got the dates wrong. It was a mistake. I have nothing to cover up."

Palace chairman Simon Jordan has accused Dowie of lying when he said his reason for leaving the club was to be nearer his family in the north of England.

Jordan says he would never have waived Palace's contractual right to £1 million compensation if he had known the manager was planning to move to The Valley a few miles away.

Dowie, whose home is in Bolton, is now in charge at Coventry.

Dowie said his relationship with Jordan was very good, although he agreed with Mr Davies that, when two strong characters clashed, sparks could fly.

But he denied the suggestion that his reason for negotiating his way out of the £1 million clause in his employment contract was to make himself more attractive to another club.

He said he had many "vitriolic" conversations with Jordan during his time with Palace, and was "used to it."

But their final telephone conversation, which led to his leaving, was "much worse".
He denied that his reason for negotiating his way out of the clause was to make himself more attractive to another club.

The court also heard how Dowie insisted he was entitled to a five per cent transfer fee of Palace players Andy Johnson and Wayne Routledge although both had been signed before he joined.

Mr Dowie argued he had helped 'develop' both players.



Tale of the Tape: Dowie 6, Jordan 7
Temperature: Liar, liar pants on fire! 23*C


The case continues...