With Tony Pulis's sudden departure followed swiftly by a fine for spying before Malky Mackay's expected appointment was scuppered by scandal, the last two weeks at Crystal Palace have been something approaching a farce.

Perhaps that is what motivated a star of Channel 4 sitcom the Inbetweeners to throw his hat into the ring to be the club's next boss. 

And with an impressive CV boasting four Premier League titles, three Champions League winners' medals and a trio of FA Cup triumphs, it is no surprise that James Buckley his piqued the interest of Palace co-chairman Steve Parish. 

Buckley lodged his application - in the name of his character in show, Jay Cartwright, and including, we suspect, a few embellishments - with the Eagles' head honcho yesterday.

His employment history supposedly includes spells at Manchester United - where he led the team to the championship an unprecedented three times in just one season - as well as West Ham United. 

Before working in football, Cartwright "spent a year in a balloon with Richard Branson" learning about making money and man management.

He also claims to have to launched a business with Rio Ferdinand called Jay and Rio's Pussy Patrol Car Stereos before being bought out by the QPR defender for £100m "coz I was sleeping with all the secretaries and and they couldn't do their jobs properly". 

Parish replied to the application, sent over Twitter, to say: "excellent cv ,working with rio on the stereo business is key, ability to manage big players , @rioferdy5 is it true ?"

There has been no word yet from the former Manchester United centre half.

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Cartwright's bulging trophy cabinet boasts dozens of honours