Ron Noades is planning to buy back Crystal Palace this summer.
The Mail on Sunday says Noades, chairman for 17 years until 1998, wants to buy the ground, then make an offer to former owner and now chief creditor Simon Jordan.
He is owed around £18million by Palace, who are in administration. He is prepared to write off around £3m but Noades is only prepared to pay half of the £15m Jordan wants.