It seems that he resigned after finding out that someone he knew died in the bombing (the wife of a mate). I'd imagine that I'd feel the same if I was close to retirement age and very wealthy. Presumably he can do a bit of media work should he want to.
Big Fat Sam is known for speaking his mind, therefore I suspect that what was written in his press release will be broadly true. If it had been about Defoe or other signings he would have said so.
After Palace got burnt by Pulis, I would have thought BFS's contract would have stipulated that...