SIMON Jordan has issued a writ against Iain Dowie accusing him of fraudulently' obtaining a release from a £1m compensation clause in his contract.

Someone acting on behalf of the Crystal Palace chairman hijacked the press conference announcing Dowie's appointment as the new Charlton manager to serve the legal notice, although he was actually prevented from doing so.

Jordan states he had assurances from Dowie saying he only wanted to leave the club to be closer to his family in the north west.

Instead, Dowie has taken the top spot at The Valley, no more than 12 miles away from Selhurst Park.

Jordan said: "If he's under the impression he can leg me over in the way he has done, then he's sadly mistaken.

"My football club waived compensation because he wanted to go back to the north.

"I released him from a £1m compensation clause because he said he wasn't going to do what he's done."

He added: "I'll prove it to the High Court. Iain Dowie had a £1m compensation clause in his contract and there is no reason why I would take it out unless it was as a gesture of goodwill.

"My repayment for that is for Iain to do exactly what he said he was not going to do."

However, before the interruption, Dowie told the nation's media he was looking for a new challenge and had acted with integrity over his new job.

The 41-year-old said: "I did not leave Palace with the intention of coming here.

"There will be a lot made of that but it was two days after leaving Palace I was contacted about the Charlton job.

"Before then, I had never envisaged it. I think I have covered myself with integrity over the way this has been done."

He added: "I am very pleased to be here and I am in esteemed company.

"To have been chosen from more than 20 applicants for a club which has a history of stability, I am absolutely delighted.

"This is a job which does not come up too often and I think it was time for me to face a new challenge."

When the attempt at issuing the writ failed, Dowie said: "I'm not going to let it sour a good day for me.

"If that's what Simon feels, it's what he feels. It totally misrepresented the conversation I had with Simon and my wife witnessed two hours of it.

"I know I've got an agreement at home saying mutual consent. I can look him in the eye as long as I cover myself, that's all I'm ever worried about.

"You'll have to ask Simon about it. I'm here to talk about Charlton.

"This is a club doing lots of great things like investing in African countries to set up a player conveyor belt, investing in the training ground and I'm making plans for the club so I don't want to be talking about something unnecessary.

"Anyone who knows me knows I won't bother to comment because he wants us to comment about it. No, I'm not concerned about my future.

"It's not knocked me for six. I'm never surprised so we'll see."

He added: "It's a good day for me and, hopefully, for everyone concerned with Charlton."

Charlton chairman Richard Murray said: "I know, deep down, Simon Jordan is a great admirer of Charlton Athletic.

"What happened between us was blown out of all proportion, he called me a name, I called him a name, but it is an emotional game.

"You saw my reaction at first. I thought the writ must be a joke, it was like some pantomime scene."

Murray also announced Dowie would be supported by coaches Les Reed and Mark Robson.

Andrew Mills will also come in as general manager of football.