David Sullivan, Birmingham City's co-owner and now one of the team's fiercest critics, has again come under fire from Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan - this time for publicly berating his own players.

Jordan was mystified by Sullivan's decision to publicly lambast Birmingham's play-ers after their 7-0 home defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final.

Sullivan claimed he disliked footballers and indicated a number of the current Birmingham squad would be sold in the summer. Jordan is regarded as one of the most outspoken chairman in English football but he said there was no benefit to making such scathing remarks.

Morale is already low at St Andrew's and Sullivan's words will have done little to assuage fears of relegation both within and outside the club.

"What is David Sullivan trying to achieve?" he asked.

"There is a place for chairmen to speak to their players, but I don't think David Sullivan was achieving a lot.

"He was venting his spleen - and what does that do?"

Jordan has clashed with Sullivan and Blues chairman David Gold in the past, notably over Steve Bruce's acrimonious departure from Palace to take over as manager at St Andrew's in December 2001.

"I don't appreciate the way they do business," he added. "I've had enough dealings with them to be able to have that view.

"I've had dealings with them over Clinton Morrison [whom Palace sold to Birmingham in July 2002 before buying him back last summer], and Julian Gray [who quit Palace to join the Blues on a Bosman-style free transfer in June 2004].

"As for Steve Bruce, I like him a lot and I have no issues with him. I have an issue with the people he works for - but not with him."

Palace, relegated from the Barclays Premiership last season, face a battle to clinch an immediate return to the top flight.

Iain Dowie's team are fifth in the Coca-Cola Championship but they are 11 points adrift of second-placed Sheffield United, meaning they will probably have to settle for a play-off place.

Dowie has already admitted the club would find it tough to hang onto England and former Blues striker Andrew Johnson if they fail to win promotion. Jordan is more upbeat about Palace's prospects of keeping the 25-year-old.

"Andrew Johnson will be at Palace if I choose for him to be there next season - and there is no reason for him not to be there," Jordan said.

"Andrew is a decent young man, so I have no reason to believe that he would put me in a position where he would demand to leave.

"Besides, I don't think there are many clubs who have big-enough pockets to match any valuation I may put on him."

Jordan still believes Johnson can force his way into the England squad for this summer's World Cup, adding: "I still think he has a very good chance."