A DIEHARD Rangers fan has been forced to paint his pub red and blue after he lost his bet that Palace would not be promoted.
John McFarlane, landlord of The Bull's Head, in Laud Street, thought he was onto a winner when the Eagles lost their first four games of the season.
He confidently wagered with his friend and regular Andy Lang that he would turn his pub red and blue if Palace somehow managed promotion.
Fast-forward nine months and John has had to eat his own words and put his paintbrush where his mouth is.
John said: "I can't believe they've gone up. They looked awful at the start of the season and even when they picked up they looked as though they would chuck it away towards the end.
"But fair is fair. I'm a man of honour and I will do it.
"I've been getting some stick for it but it's a bit of fun."
But Scotsman John, 50, an ardent supporter of fallen Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers, couldn't resist a cheeky dig at the Selhurst faithful.
John, who has run The Bull's Head for more than 10 years, added: "It will be nice for the Palace fans who come in here to have the walls painted red and blue when they are losing every game next season.
"But even when Palace do go down, I'll still have to keep it because of the amount of money it's cost me.
"I only painted this place two years ago.
"I'll strangle Andy when I get my hands on him and I'm not sure if I'll be able to let go."
Palace supporter Andy, 58, admitted he never thought the bet would come off when it was made but that he would not have let John forget it.
Andy said: "We have always had little bets on Palace sitting at the pub.
"If Palace won, he bought me a pint and if we lost, I bought him one.
"He made the bet about painting the pub when we were looking rubbish at the start of the season.
"No-one could have predicted what would happen."
And when Kevin Phillips buried the penalty that sent Ian Holloway's side to the Premier League, Andy knew exactly where he would celebrate the victory.
"He's Scottish through and through and loves taking the mick out of Palace so when we won the play-off final I marched into the pub and told him to get painting.
"To his credit, he's going to do it and he's had to put his hand in his pocket.
"He'll have a Premier League pub in time for the new season."
