IT seems a long time ago that Crystal Palace were in the top-flight alongside their decorated London neighbours like Arsenal and Spurs. A very long time!

In truth, it was only two seasons ago, but Palace seem to have been struggling for an age.

Big name players, managers and chairmen have been and gone since Palace were relegated alongside Wanderers in 1998, and stability at the club is still desperately sought.

Millionaire businessman Simon Jordan is now the owner of the Eagles after saving them from administration by ploughing over £6m into the club.

Jordan is also responsible for bringing manager Alan Smith to the club from Fulham, but he might be starting to regret that decision.

Smith has spent big bucks since his return to Selhurst Park two weeks before the start of the season and so far has seen no return from his investments.

Latvians Aleksnadras Kolinko and Andrejs Rubins have joined Dougie Freedman, Jamie Pollock (pictured right), Neil Ruddock, Craig Harrison, Steve Staunton, Andy Morrison and Mikael Forsell in the Selhurst Park dressing-room, and they have thus far failed to gel.

The quality is undoubtedly there, but the confidence definitely isn't.

Injuries haven't helped with experienced defenders Ruddock, Fan Zhiyi and Dean Austin all on the injury-list. A fact not lost on the Selhurst Park faithful.

The Palace fans are starting to get restless and calling for Smith's head, with the loss of influential defender Andy Linighan to Oxford on a free, seen as a massive blunder by the supporters.

Linighan would have shored up the defence and help build morale, such was his standing at the club, but Smith decided he was surplus to requirements.

Results are horrendous, with defeats to Portsmouth (Pompey came from 2-0 down to win) and Grimsby coming on top off losses to Sheffield United Birmingham, Preston and Fulham.

Straight-talking chairman Jordan will take no prisoners in his quest to see Palace reach the top-flight and Smith knows his team will have to pick up some points soon, or he will be facing the sack and his players relegation.

But the real dire statistic for Palace fans is their lack of goals. Tommy Black, with four goals, is their top-scorer. His position? Right-midfield