Roy plots course for Palace

ROY Hodgson is aiming to help Crystal Palace achieve their “enormous potential for growth” after being confirmed as the club’s new manager.

Croydon-born former England boss Hodgson’s return to the club, with whom he began his playing career in 1965, was confirmed last night.

The 70-year-old said: “It is very rewarding to find myself here now, in different times, as the Palace manager at a club that I have always loved and admired with a huge potential.

“The ambitions here are realistic and there is an enormous potential for growth and I hope we can achieve our goals.”

Hodgson had emerged as the clear front-runner for the Palace role even before the 1-0 defeat at Burnley on Sunday which sealed Frank de Boer’s fate, the Dutchman departing just 77 days into a three-year contract.

Palace are the first team in England’s top division to lose their opening f our games without scoring a goal since Preston 93 years ago.

It is also Hodgson’s first role since his ignominious departure from the England job after their shock Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland.