Routledge: Why I must leave Palace

"I realised not everybody would agree with my decision to leave Palace, but I came through the game and feel stronger for it.

"I have been at Palace a long time and have strong feelings for the club but I have made up my mind.

"I don't think I have let the club down in my time here and hopefully people will be able to understand where I am coming from."

Routledge got a taste on Saturday of what might be to come if his move to Spurs does not materialise in this transfer window and he has to see his contract through to the summer.

Supporters who saw Palace's 3-0 win against his prospective employers at Selhurst Park seemed to be split in their feelings towards him, but there were plenty who let him know they were angry.

For a young player to come through that as he did shows a mental strength which will stand him in good stead. "As long as my manager, team-mates and the people around me have got faith in me I feel strong enough to handle whatever is going to happen," Routledge said.

Routledge claims fans don't know the full story behind his bid to move and denies he has been disruptive.

Manager Iain Dowie, with whom he still has a good relationship, feels it would be best for his development to stay at Selhurst Park.

He argues the winger will get more experience at a smaller club.

Although Dowie sees Routledge as the cream of Palace's academy crop, the club have not always treated him that way.

Before the former Northern Ireland international took charge, they had the chance to tie him to a long-term, performance-based deal but chose not to. Routledge said: "The contract business has been a long, hard process. Everything has not gone as smoothly as it should have.

"It started when the club were supposed to open negotiations with me about a new contract on my 18th birthday.

"It never happened then or after we got promoted to the Premiership and I only received their contract offer at the end of December when there were a few months left on my deal."

The situation was not helped by Jordan's dislike for the company that represents Routledge, Proactive Sports Management.

The chairman decided he would be better off ignoring them and negotiating with the player and his family directly, but that was another mistake. "It would have been easier if the club had followed the normal method and spoken to my agents rather than talking directly to me," Routledge said.

"That is what they are there for. When you are a young player, negotiating a contract is not the easiest thing to do.

"That is what agents specialise in and I wanted the club to talk to them. It seems like common sense to me.

"Everybody has people who are their representatives. I chose my agents about three years ago and I am comfortable with them.

"If the club choose to sell me before the window closes that is up to them and I will respect whatever decision they make, but they should have respected my decision to appoint an agent."

Despite the controversy he says he won't stop trying for Palace if he stays at Selhurst Park.

"I am not the sort of person to hang my head and sulk," Routledge said.

"The manager has shown great faith in me since he joined Palace and I know that situation is not going to change now because of the kind of people we are. We will just get on with our jobs. I am doing what I feel is right for me in terms of my career but I will keep plugging away and giving 100 per cent for Palace.

"At the moment I am still one of the club's players and for as long as that is the case I will give everything to help them stay up."