Simon Jordan has got one over old adversary Ron Noades by purchasing the freehold of Selhurst Park from the ex-Eagles supremo - without him knowing.

The two businessmen have been at loggerheads for a number of years in the battle to own Selhurst Park, with Noades frustrating Jordan with his reluctance to sell the ground to the current Palace chairman But Jordan told a specially arranged press conference yesterday (Tuesday) a £12m deal to buy the freehold of the ground had been secured by structuring an arrangement with property developer David Pearl, who agreed to buy the ground off Noades and sell it to Jordan.

"I've had to do it in a certain way but that's the only way I can deal with the fella (Noades)," said Jordan.

"We don't get on and, for whatever reason, we are unable to do any business together.

"I used the same structure to buy the club so there is no reason why I shouldn't use the same structure to obtain something which is for the betterment of the club and the betterment of the individual being him."

The Palace chairman indicated Noades was still unaware of the his involvement in the deal right up until the press conference and joked the former chairman would be "thrilled" when he finds out.

But Jordan insists the deal was not done purely to win his personal battle with Noades - it was to safeguard the future of the club.

"I don't see this as a personal victory," he said. "I see it as a fulfilment of what I was going to do. I see it as a step forward for Palace and an opportunity for a new era to start.

"Ron's had his time and has done fantastically well. But the freehold now belongs where it should be, with the owners of the club and ultimately the custodians of the club being the fans.

"I see it as an opportunity for us to really start pushing ourselves forward and build the club up the way I want to do it, rather than have the hindrance of listening to his comments about me every summer while he's driving around a golf course in a buggy."

While Jordan hinted the £12m used to buy the freehold was not all from his own wallet, he did insist the purchase would not affect Peter Taylor's attempts to strengthen the side in the January and summer transfer windows.

Instead, he is planning to improve the ground's facilities and leave a legacy where the club can move forward on a financially solid platform.

"I want to put the club where I always said I'd put it - among the elite," he added.

"It will have the facilities that is conducive of a top club and a financial platform that does not need one individual.

"It needs a good board of directors that can maximise the revenue streams like big football clubs do and push ourselves forward."