This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
It has been over six years now since Crystal Palace returned to the Premier League via a Championship playoff final win over Watford.
Eagles chief Steve Parish is clearly keen to set about taking the south Londoners to the next step, having implemented a three-year plan for the club which involves the £100m redevelopment of Selhurst Park and a focus on developing the academy.
It was Parish who helped save the club from administration way back in 2010, taking over with help from the rest of the CPFC2010 consortium to drag Palace away from the brink at the final hour – he has truly transformed the Eagles’ fortunes in less than a decade.
Incidentally, two recent developments have helped boost the 54-year-old’s vision.
Firstly, the Eagles struck a deal with Australian bank Macquarie that will see the south Londoners net a £22.5m instalment owed to them by Manchester United early – the Red Devils were set to pay the fee to Palace in nine months’ time as part of the Aaron Wan-Bissaka deal, but that sum will now go to Macquarie.
This injection of cash will help aid Parish’s plans for the club sooner rather than later, while a more recent development has also boosted another aspect of the chairman’s three-year plan.
U23 coach Richard Shaw left the club on Tuesday to pursue other opportunities, meaning that Parish’s desire to redevelop the academy can start by finding a replacement for the man who made over 200 appearances for Palace as a player.
”I’ve enjoyed my time at Palace but now it’s time to explore other exciting coaching opportunities.”
If Shaw had decided to remain in his role, and the instalment from United were to have not arrived until nine months’ time, then the Eagles would perhaps have been left twiddling their thumbs waiting for the opportunities to arise.
However, these two recent developments will have undoubtedly boosted Parish’s hopes and dreams for the south Londoners.
