Palace look on bright side of Premiership life

There have been too many setbacks over the years for supporters to get carried away, but they recognise that the former Northern Ireland striker has turned the club around. Not only has he taken them from relegation trouble in Division One to the Premiership but, since winning promotion in May, Dowie and his team have also inspired hope they might stay up.

When he joined, Palace were 19th with only 28 points from 24 games and a goal difference of minus nine.

Dowie said: "The chairman told me he wanted 67 points. I thought 'Oh, okay'. He wanted 60 per cent better.

"We exceeded his expectations, which is nice. I am looking forward to my gift now. He has been watching the boxing in America so who knows what I will get?"

Dowie's team finished the season with 73 points and he can afford to joke after such spectacular success.

His time at Palace has cemented his reputation as one of the best young managers around and made him a target for other clubs. But his move from Oldham to Selhurst Park was never a sure thing.

Chairman Simon Jordan initially ignored his designs on the job when Steve Kember was sacked in November last year. Instead, he followed the lead of his friend, Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis, and appointed from within. Paphitis had recently made Dennis Wise player-manager. At Palace, defender Kit Symons was given a go.

Fortunately for Dowie, it did not work out and a month later he took the chance to prove himself.

"It has been a wonderful experience," the manager said today. "It has been a fabulous period at the club.

"When I have retired I can look back at great days away at Ipswich, Sheffield United, the Millennium Stadium and good friendships. Our performance in extra-time in the second leg of the Sunderland playoff semi-final, when we were down to 10 men and managed to hold on, was a highlight. That summed up what we have created: the ability to hang in there.

"The spirit around the place and the enjoyment of coming to work I will look back on. Of course, winning the play-off final against West Ham, the team I supported as a boy, was another highlight."

There have been many more, not least last month's 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Selhurst Park.

But for Dowie and Palace crunch time is fast approaching. After climbing away from the relegation zone they have not won since the end of October and have slipped back into danger.

It would take a shock to break that sequence tomorrow and the Christmas and January period will be crucial. What business Palace do in the transfer window could decide their fate and the targets they pursue will tell fans whether their half a glass of optimism is about to go flat.

"We want to carry on moving forward together: we want to own our ground, redevelop the training ground and make this a Premier League club with premier facilities," said the ever-positive Dowie.

He has been talking about bringing in two or three established top-flight players next month and building a legacy before his contract expires in four years' time.

For that he will need Jordan's full financial support. If it is forthcoming it will suggest that the chairman intends to stay, but he has sent out mixed messages about his intentions since Palace won promotion to the Premiership and secured a £35million windfall.

Jordan said he wants to quit but also that he intends to create a 40,000-seat stadium for Palace and establish them as a top Premiership side. Should the former be true, much of this year's earnings may be used to cover the club's debts - more than £9m and rising, according to the last set of accounts. In that case the quality of signings next month may not reach Dowie's standards.

But if the latter is true and Jordan gives the manager the financial support he felt was lacking in August, the future looks relatively bright. Dowie is capable of keeping Palace up with the right resources and then the club would be in a decent position to build for the future.

There are no prizes for guessing which scenario the club's fans will be drinking to tomorrow.

Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Old Trafford, tomorrow, 5.15pm (Live on Prem Plus)