Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan scored a legal victory today when a British High Court judge upheld his claim that he was "deceived" by manager Iain Dowie over his reasons for leaving the club.

Jordan accused Dowie of telling lies when he negotiated his way out of his contract with Palace and joined arch-rivals Charlton a year ago.

The judge ruled that Palace entered into a compromise agreement, freeing Dowie from his contract, on the basis of "fraudulent representations" by the manager to the effect that he had not contacted Charlton and had no present intention of joining them.

Dowie, 42, had a clause in his contract to the effect that, if he left to join another club, Palace would receive £1million compensation.

The question of whether Palace is now entitled to £1million, or some other amount, on the basis that it lost the chance to benefit under that clause will be decided at a further court hearing.