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Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images

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‘We used to be quite good mates’… Simon Jordan explains why him and Ian Wright had falling out

Lucas Arnold
Lucas Arnold

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has now been explaining why he’s fallen out with Arsenal icon Ian Wright.

Of course, Ian Wright played for Palace on 225 occasions before joining Arsenal in 1991.

Football FA cup final 1991
Photo by Walker Howard Albert Cooper/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

And whilst Simon Jordan became Palace chairman in 2000, he said the pair did used to be close.

Wright is much loved in the football community, a pundit whose words are enjoyed almost as much as his goal-scoring was on the pitch.

And therefore, it is a bit of a surprise to hear of a falling out with anyone, let alone a pair considered ‘good mates’.

However, when talking on the ‘’ podcast, with guest Les Ferdinand, Jordan explained why he and Arsenal legend Wright fell out.

In all honesty, it does seem like a story that needs to be told from both perspectives.

But Jordan seemed fairly adamant that he had simply made a reasonable request.

Simon Jordan explains why he fell out with Arsenal legend Ian Wright

Speaking on the podcast, Jordan said: “That was one of my major bugbears with Ian Wright. We used to be quite good mates, not so much these days.

“But I asked him to come and do some striking training at Crystal Palace while I was there.

ARSENAL V C.PALACE
1 OCT 1994: ARSENAL's IAN WRIGHT IS PULLED BY DARREN PATTERSON OF CRYSTAL PALACE DURING THE ARSENAL V CRYSTAL PALACE FA PREMIERSHIP MATCH AT THE HIGHBURY. Mandatory Credit: Graham Chadwick/ALLSPORT

“You know, Ian Wright coming in to do some striker training, they are going to fall over themselves.

“And I said, just with some of the young kids, don’t drive in a Ferrari. But in comes the Ferrari. But there we are.”

Of course, as mentioned, it would be worth hearing Wright’s half on the matter, which doesn’t seem too significant in fairness – especially considering he was happy to attend the training.


But clearly Simon Jordan took umbrage with Ian Wright on this occasion.

That being said, some Arsenal fans might even be interested in Wright attending a shooting drill at the club right now.

Whilst Mikel Arteta’s team were brilliant against Liverpool on Sunday, there’s definitely still work to be done in the finishing department.

And with that considered, one Arsenal target looks as if he’ll almost certainly be on the move this summer.