Dowie deceived Crystal Palace, judge rules

Former Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie "deceived" the second division club when he left to join rivals Charlton Athletic last year, a top judge at London's High Court ruled yesterday.

Dowie, 42, had told Palace chairman Simon Jordan that he wanted a job closer to his family in northern England and said he had not spoken with Charlton, then in the Premier League, the court heard.

But Mr Justice Tugendhat ruled these were "misrepresentations" and that Dowie in fact "had a present intention to join Charlton".

"The club's claim that Mr Dowie deceived Mr Jordan succeeds," Mr Justice Tugendhat said.

In May 2006, only days after he left Palace, Dowie took the manager's job at Charlton, where he lasted five months before taking over at Coventry City in February.

Still at issue, though, was a clause in Dowie's contract stating Palace would receive £1 million ($1.97 million) if he left to join another club.

Palace claimed they only waived the compensation clause because their former manager said he missed his wife and children and would move to a northern club nearer to home.

However, the judge refused to award Palace compensation. The club said they would press ahead with seeking damages for one million pounds.

Dowie said he was pleased Crystal Palace had not succeeded in their compensation claim.

"I am naturally disappointed that the judge has ruled against me on the other issue raised in this first phase of the case," he said in a statement.