Paphitis aims blast at Palace

Paphitis' comments were scathing

Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis aimed a verbal blast at Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan.

Paphitis hurled a string of insults at Millwall's south London rivals, in reply to a Palace programme article.

The article criticised Paphitis' "knee jerk" reaction in sacking manager Mark McGhee.

But Pahitis said: "The accusation I made a knee jerk reaction is choice coming from a club for whom 'knee' and 'jerk' should be in their club crest."

The Lions' chairman also dubbed his rivals "Crippled Alice" and "The Beagles" and called their ground "Smellhurst Park."

When things are going pear-shaped, you can have a pop at your neighbour Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis

Paphitis and Palace chairman Simon Jordan were close friends, but the Millwall chairman is incensed by the programme article.

He tipped Palace for relegation and added: "The great thing about local rivalries is that when things are going pear-shaped, you can have a pop at your neighbour.

"Step forward our good friends at Crippled Alice who took umbrage with our decision to part company with Mark.

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"Having finished above the Beagles for the past two seasons they probably can't understand how we can want for anything more."

Paphitis also retaliated at Palace's criticism of Lions' caretaker boss Dennis Wise.

"To slag off Dennis, a player they tried to sign and who has won more than they could ever dream of, shows what a small-minded club they are."