Hodgson steps down and hails ‘very special’ club

ROY HODGSON has paid a ‘very special’ farewell to Crystal Palace after stepping down as head coach following last week’s health scare. The Eagles have confirmed the appointment of Oliver Glasner on a two-and-a-half year deal, a move reported by Mail Sport on Thursday, to replace Hodgson following a final round of talks with chairman Steve Parish in south London on Friday night. Well-placed sources insisted Glasner had always been the club’s first-choice candidate despite interest in Steve Cooper, Julen Lopetegui and Kieran McKenna. Eagles chiefs were first in contact with Glasner with a view to replacing Hodgson at the end of the season about three months ago. They held initial discussions with the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss last summer. However those plans have accelerated amid a worrying sequence of results and the major health scare suffered by Hodgson when he collapsed during a training session on Friday, an incident that resulted in the 76-year-old spending a period in hospital. In confirming his decision, Hodgson said: ‘This club is very special and means so much to me and has played a big part in my footballing life. ‘I have fully enjoyed my time here across six seasons, as it has given me the chance to work with top-class players and staff doing what I love every day. ‘However, I understand, given recent circumstances, it may be prudent for the club to plan ahead, and therefore I have taken the decision to step aside so that the club can bring forward their plans for a new manager, as intended for this summer. ‘I am confident the season will finish well and wish the team every success.’ On his appointment, Austrian Glasner said: ‘I am looking forward to working with the talented squad, meeting the club’s supporters and experiencing the Selhurst Park atmosphere I have heard so much about.’