There can be no doubt that Simon Jordan is now up there with Steve Coppell when it comes to men who have shaped the history and future of Crystal Palace FC.

Yes, Jordan did save Palace from extinction but the job was only half done without full ownership of the ground.

As Mark Goldberg found to his cost, it is no use paying millions for just the name and the players as it can ultimately end up worthless.

Jordan wavered for a bit when it appeared Ron Noades was trying to hold him, and therefore us Palace fans, to ransom.

He made noises about selling up and moving on. You couldn't help but feel that for all his ambition and talent, running a top-flight football club without a ground would have tested even him.

But that's all in the past, now that Jordan has managed to secure the freehold of one magic corner of SE25.

He had to use cloak and dagger methods to get it, but Uncle Ron was throttling what he thought was his own potential golden goose.

In this day and age of murky money from abroad and speculating investors, how good is it to have one of our own in charge?

Jordan bleeds red and blue and is from the area. He cares about Palace and wants his team to succeed for reasons straight from the heart - not the spread sheet.

He has what it takes to move Palace forward, and with Selhurst Park now part of the package the long term planning can now truly begin.