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Say it ain’t so Iain. Say it ain’t so.

John J O’Connor

Saturday, August 19th, 2006

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 “I need to be near my family,
I’ve got to leave the South.
These were the words that flowed,
from Iain Dowie’s mouth.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Now South London it is wonderful,
to say different I’d be a liar,
but I really need to be up North,
with my wife in Lanca-shire.”

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 T’was to Palace Chairman Jordan,
he made his desperate appeal,
begging him to release him,
from his original contract deal.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Iain had been a coaching wonder,
when he led Palace to promotion,
but then the following season,
he was in charge of their demotion.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Between himself and Simon Jordan,
there was no love, they both agreed,
and to get Iain Dowie to stay aboard,
Jordan wasn’t going to plead.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 ” I’ll release you from your obligations,
I won’t look for compensation,
as long as you are true to your word,
and make the North your destination.”

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 But instead of heading the M1’s way,
to live in the Northern burbs,
Dowie was checking a vacancy,
left by Charlton’s Alan Curbs.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 So a week after shaking Jordan’s hand,
and acting all pally pally,
Dowie was sneaking up the road,
to sign a contract at the Valley.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 Mr Dowie, we always supported you,
we cheered when you raised your fist*
but the way you pulled a fast one,
means at Selhurst you won’t be missed.

© John J O’Connor August 2006

Notes

The title comes from an American saying, ‘Say it ain’t so Joe, say it ain’t so.’It originated in Chigago in 1917 when the greatest baseball player of that time Shoeless Joe Jackson got charged with match fixing.Apparently he was approached the next day by a tearful young boy who uttered those words.
Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie convinced everyone he had to head North for family reasons then once released headed down the road to bitter rivals Charlton.At his press conference he was served a writ from a bitter Palace Chairman Simon Jordan.
* The Dowie fist reached almost legendry status at Selhurst.Was raised to the crowd after winning performances.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/say-it-aint-so-iain-say-it-aint-so/