Dowiegate Day Five

Dowie's time in Croydon saw The Eagles promoted to the Premiership,relegated on the last day of the season and into the Championship play-offs the following season. The City boss claimed that his reputation had been severely damaged by Simon Jordan repeatedly calling him a liar in the media.

Dowie said: "I believe that I have acted properly and honestly at all times. I entered a compromise agreement and waived very significant salary, bonuses and benefits under my contract in return for Crystal Palace waiving a compensation clause payable if I joined another club.

"There were no restrictions in that compromise agreement on where I could work and I found a new job at Charlton Athletic. I did not make any representations to Simon Jordan, false or otherwise, that I would only work in the north of England, or that that was the only reason why I was leaving Crystal Palace.

"He knew this was not the case." The case continues.

Meanwhile, City have denied that Iain Dowie will become the next Leicester City or Northern Ireland manager. The Ulsterman had been linked with them from up the M69 but chose City after hearing plans for the take-over.

Speculation has risen again but this has been denied by Paul Fletcher and Geoffrey Robinson. Fletcher said: "There will always be speculation and it is nice to have interest in your manager, but there is no truth in the rumour."