Crystal Palace fans should back Steve Parish over investment, says former chairman

Steve Parish’s successful track record should reassure fans that projected investment from American businessmen Josh Harris and David Blitzer is in the best interests of Crystal Palace, according to former chairman Mark Goldberg.

Harris and Blitzer - co-owners of NBA team Philadelphia 76ers and NHL side New Jersey Devils - have been in talks about buying a stake in Palace, with Parish telling Sky Sports News HQ last month he hopes a deal can be completed by Christmas.

Parish, co-chairman Stephen Browett and fellow owners Jeremy Hosking and Martin Long each hold a 25 per cent stake in the club currently, and a prospective deal would see Parish remain as the majority shareholder.

"I believe in the current ownership of Palace and if they think it's the right thing to do then it has to be," Goldberg told Sky Sports.

"Steve Parish is a very sensible chairman who has made all the right decisions. He's brought in the right management team on and off the pitch, he's brought in the right players and if he believes bringing in new ownership is the right thing to do then I think we should all have faith and trust in him because he's done a wonderful job."

Parish and his fellow co-owners acquired Palace after the club went into administration in 2010, helping the club secure promotion to the Premier League three years later.

"In recent years Steve Parish has been one of the most important factors in Palace developing as a club," Goldberg added.

"He's taken the club from a position where it was in dire straits and in potential ruin and he's brought in the right investors and put the right structure in place to take the club forward.

"Steve has recognised that in order to help the club compete for many years to come, and maybe become a club that we all dream of - one that could compete for the top trophies in Europe - further investment is needed."

Goldberg had a two-year spell as Palace chairman after buying the club in the late 1990s, during which time the club signed former Sweden international Tomas Brolin and ex-Italy winger Attilio Lombardo.

But Palace were plunged into administration when Goldberg's financial backers withdrew their financial support, but Goldberg is convinced that Parish is the right man to help the club realise its potential.

"I think one of my problems as an owner was that before I took over I thought Palace had the most amazing potential and maybe it wasn't ready for what my dreams were for the club," he said.

"I didn't have the capability myself to take the club where I believed it was capable of going but Steve Parish has come in at the right time and he has been able to take the club to a different level. With the work he has done and what he has achieved I think one day Crystal Palace - with investment from America which is looking increasingly likely - can realise its full potential."

Goldberg is now manager of Bromley and guided the club to the National League for the first time in the club's history after they were crowned Conference South champions last season.

"We're proud to be in the National League and it is a privilege for Bromley Football club to be at that level," he said.

"We haven't had the results we would have liked in the last three games to be halfway up the table at this stage of the season gives us something to build on. The aim is for us to one day become a football league club and we have got the potential, the infrastructure and the right people behind us to do that. We're very excited about the future."

Goldberg was speaking at the 11th annual British Curry Awards at London's Battersea Evolution where he was a guest of the award-winning Shampan Group of restaurants.

"Shampan have been great supporters of the club for many years now and a many of our fans spend a lot of their spare time there. We're delighted we can show our support for them here."