The truth of Goldberg's crazy spree

Goldberg, who was declared bankrupt in 1999, insisted on treating Palace like a top Premiership club and the same policy was applied to the salary scale.

The doctor was paid £100,000 a year, while another £100,000 was spent on the team of fitness trainers. Manager Terry Venables was handed a hugely generous deal which included a £750,000 annual salary (paid gross and in advance), a £600,000 house and a £65,000 company car.

Venables took charge of identifying new signings, though Goldberg was also heavily involved in the business side of transfer negotiations.

The latter had no experience in football and the judgement cites a highly critical letter from fellow board member McAvoy.

He said: "The manner by which players were being identified, brought to the club on trial and negotiations with agents handled was completely unprofessional.

"Our flirtation with all things foreign, particularly Argentinians and Aussies, made us easy prey for the voracious appetite of the fee-driven agent.

"We actually found ourselves dealing with multiple agents on the one deal and paying fees on the selling of our players and the buying of new ones.

"The club incurred over £1m in agency fees. I have no doubt we were seen as an easy touch, the new boys and naive."

The most striking example was the signing of Walter Del Rio. According to the judgement, the agents' fees for the Argentinian defender were nearly £450,000 - compared to a transfer fee of £187,500.

Other overseas players bought included China internationals Fan Zhiyi and Sun Jihai, Australia's Craig Moore and Israel defender David Amsalem.

The role of Venables in the £800,000 signing of Amsalem is also highlighted in the judgement. The judge described the size of the fee as "mysterious" and claims Venables was accused of "having his hand in the till" at a board meeting. The judge rejected this accusation and a spokesman for Venables denied any suggestion of wrongdoing, saying: "Mr Venables was not a director of Crystal Palace, he was only the coach. He made recommendations to the board."

Coppell would appear to endorse this view in his evidence, summing up Goldberg as a man in awe of Venables.

He said: "Venables would identify the transfer target and Goldberg would do the negotiating. Goldberg desperately wanted to get the players Venables had chosen."