John Textor criticises Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish for lack of ambition

Textor has hit out at Palace chairman Parish
Textor has hit out at Palace chairman ParishCLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP / AFP / Profimedia
John Textor has criticised Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish for his lack of ambition at the club.

Textor's involvement with both Palace and French club Lyon looks set to jeopardise the club’s spot in the Europa League due to UEFA multi-club ownership rules. Textor is in the process of selling his 43% stake in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson but it may not be enough as they await a verdict from UEFA. 

This week, Lyon won an appeal against their relegation from Ligue 1 because of the club's poor financial state, which hurts Palace’s chances of playing Europa League football even more. Now, despite lifting the FA Cup last season, Textor believes the club would have gone on to more success if he had been able to increase his stake in the side. 

Speaking to TalkSport, he gave a brief comment on Parish whom he believes is holding the side back. 

“I think his ambition every year is to avoid relegation. Our ambition is to climb the table.” 

Textor has insisted that he has no day-to-day involvement in the running of Palace, which would then allow the club to begin their Europa League campaign. When asked where the blame lies for Palace's potential expulsion from the Europa League, he gave an interesting answer as he suggested that he is not the right man to ask. 

“Ask the guy that drives the red Ferrari," Textor said.

“I never want to be the man. Ask the guy that drives the red Ferrari that. I'm not that guy. 

“I don't wake up wanting to be the man. But I do love the family of Eagle Football. I think collaboration between clubs and communities is a good thing. Otherwise, we're just watching petro clubs win everything." 

Crystal Palace have now been removed from the Europa League, and will play in the Conference League next season.