Marshalling his troops - Pitchcare

“Once people find out
you are in financial
difficulties, they don’t
want to deal with you”
Mark Perrin, Head Groundsman, Crystal Palace FC
A buyer emerged at the
eleventh hour to claw Crystal
Palace out of administration.
Tom James talks to the man
who made sure the team
would be playing on a worthy
surface, despite all the
money troubles
An estimated two billion viewers
tuned in to watch events unfold at
the FIFA World Cup in South
Africa. Even as the greatest
showcase of football on the planet
played out its final acts, back home, managers
at top flight clubs were busy taking note of the
emerging talent, ready to launch multi-million
pound bids as the 2010/11 Premiership season
approached.
While big money deals and hefty weekly
wages are now part and parcel of life for the
elite few, the operational climate is starting to
look markedly chilly further down the football
leagues, with a growing tally of clubs unable to
withstand the financial pressures of the game.
The penalty is severe for those forced to go
into administration but, remarkably, south
London Championship side Crystal Palace FC
survived a traumatic season - and relegation -
to fight another day, as long as they could find
a buyer to revive their fortunes and rebuild
anew.
After six months in administration, it
emerged - safely gathered up into the hands
of a consortium of local businessmen - ready
for action on the field of play, and sealing the
survival of the 105-year old club and its
Selhurst Park ground.
In the early 1980s, Crystal Palace had paved
the way for, what is now, commonplace -
mixed retail, residential and sporting
developments.