Ex-Premier League club owner regrets signing a former African star, claiming he should have bought a boat instead.
After purchasing Crystal Palace at the age of 32 in 2000, Simon Jordan ruled the club for ten years, achieving promotion to the Premier League during that time.
Additionally, the businessman oversaw the purchase of former Nigeria international Ade Akinbiyi for a reported fee of £2.2 million (about R51 million).
In 28 appearances for the side, he scored only three goals, before moving to Stoke City.
During a recent interview, the former club owner was asked who was his worst signing, and he responded with the ex-Super Eagle.
According to Jordan, "Ade Akin Bad Buy [Akinbiyi] was useless. He wasted my time and money, and I wasted his."
"The reality is how weak one can be if they say 'I don't want to do this' and are worn down by the processes of the manager. Eventually, they know something is wrong but they continue to do it and then they are surprised by the results."
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In addition, the businessman was asked who was responsible for the signing.
Ultimately, I should've said no, but when you're the owner of a football club, you must either support him or sack him," Jordan explained.
I have a situation where this is my champion, and he says he wants him. He looks bloody useless to me, and I'm going to spend a fortune on him.
Looking at the boat he was buying, I thought, 'I could buy that boat if I didn't buy that club-footed clown that I know won't be of much use to me.'
I got neither the boat nor a decent player, and that's what I ended up doing."
