The footballing Gods decided that two months out of the limelight was long enough for a club like Crystal Palace.

Five managers in as many years has failed to hinder the progress of the football club and they are now arguably at the strongest position in their history, particularly as far as reputation goes. Now Crystal Palace are reportedly in the centre of a potential mega money takeover deal involving American billionaire Josh Harris - ironically just two weeks after fans proudly displayed a banner whichread ‘Roman's dirty money is a disease that has plagued our game'. 

We have developed an exceptional reputation as a community club. There is a great amount of satisfaction knowing it’s run by four Palace fans and many have taken to social media sites to make their feelings clear they don’t want a foreign owner taking the reins, fearing Harris won’t ‘get’ the club.

The potential takeover raises an extraordinary debate which has the split the fanbase. There are the ones who prefer Palace to maintain its community feel, knowing we are never likely to win anything and that success is deemed as survival. Others want to see a continuation in the rise of the club and no matter how well Steve Parish has done with us so far, there is always a ‘next step’ which needs to be taken in order to move upwards. Others, like myself, would welcome a compromise of the two - having Harris’ financial backing with the nous and understanding of what it means to be part of Crystal Palace.

Cerainly Harris knows what it takes to own a sports team, as he is the chief of American NBA side Philadelphia 76ers and NFL side New Jersey Devils. And while he theoretically owns these ‘franchises’, it is said he employs a number of staff to deal with the day-to-day running of the clubs. Immediately this strikes some Palace fans with fear, as it is exactly this lack of personal experience they don’t want at the club.

This is where the future role of Parish is essential should there be any truth in the recent stories and the deal goes ahead. If Harris was wise, he would keep Parish at the helm to oversee the transition CPFC2010 had envisaged. Not only have Parish and co gone a long way down the line with a stadium redevelopment plan, they know what it is like to own a football club.

For all of the money Harris potentially has to offer, the fact of the matter is he has no idea what it takes to run a football club. CPFC2010 have that experience which can help Harris and his men ease their way into the ownership and eventually take the club forward.

A Palace fan who claims they don’t crave success would be lying. Parish has done an exceptional job with the club and it is all his doing we find reportedly find ourselves on the brink of an alleged £75m sale. However, with the current limited resources, the club can only go so far.

Without spending wildly like QPR and Cardiff have done, Palace need an injection of wisely spent money which can see us achieve our first goal - truly establishing ourselves as a Premier League club. Hopefully any deal would see an agrement struck which sees Parish remain a key figure at the club - and that the planning on Selhurst Park redevelopment continues at the same pace as now.

It is surely impossible to scoff at the idea of a billionaire owner. Harris could propel us to greater heights with a cash injection, similar to how vastly transformed clubs such as Southampton, West Ham and Hull have done.

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