Richard Yinka is a sport analyst, sport writer and a Manchester United fan
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Crystal Palace CEO Simon Jordan identified the former Nigerian international, Ade Akinbiyi, as the worst signing that he had made in the ten years of his tenure at Palace.
Jordan, who coached the Eagles between 2000 and 2010, brought Akinbiyi to the club in his second year on the hotseat by signing him for £2. 2 million, but the striker failed to justify his price tag.
Ade Akinbiyi blasted by former Palace CEO
A Disappointing Stint at Palace
Akinbiyi, who is an England-born Nigerian striker, was terribly disappointing in his short time playing at the Crystal Palace.
He was unable to make any impact and scored only three goals in 24 games, which did not impress the fans and club officials.
When asked to express his opinion about the signing, the first reaction of Jordan was shock and anger, and he said, “This Ade Akin Bad Buy [Akinbiyi].” He just was useless. I wasted my time and money, and he wasted his own time.
When discussing the failure of the transfer, Jordan immediately took an honest position as a person responsible for this failure along with the player and the manager.
As quoted by talkSPORTS, He said, “I should have told him no, but it is the nature of the business that when you are the owner of a football club, you only have two options: to support him or fire him.”
Simon Jordan’s regret over signing Ade Akinbiyi was immediate, despite manager Trevor Francis pushing for the deal to go through.
Reflecting on his buyer’s remorse, Jordan humorously recalled a moment in the south of France when he stood next to Formula 1 boss Eddie Jordan.
Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan with new manager Neil Warnock during a press conference at Selhurst Park, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo.
“I remember standing on the side of a pier in the south of France next to Eddie Jordan,” Jordan said. “I was looking at the boat he was buying, thinking, ‘I could buy that boat if I wasn’t buying that club-footed clown that I know isn’t going to be of any use to me.’”
Despite his doubts, Akinbiyi became an Eagle, but the striker’s disappointing spell at Crystal Palace only reinforced Jordan’s regret.
Just as in club football, Akinbiyi’s time in international football was equally hampered by his ineffectiveness, managing only an appearance for the Nigerian senior team.
