The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Palace turn to Hodgson as De Boer goes after 77 days
Dutchman dismissed after dire run of opening matches
Crystal Palace will appoint Roy Hodgson as manager after sacking Frank de Boer following only four Premier League matches in charge.
The Dutchman departed yesterday, only 77 days into a three-year contract, after they became the first team in England’s top division to lose their opening four league fixtures without scoring since Preston 93 years ago.
Hodgson is in talks to accept his first job in management since resigning from the England post after the awful Euro 2016 campaign.
The 70-year-old was also approached when Sam Allardyce was eventually appointed to succeed Alan Pardew last December, and, after a significant break from football, now looks set to return to oversee Saturday’s home match against Southampton.
Palace’s board had acted after losing confidence in the 47-year-old De Boer’s ability to improve results ahead of a run in which Huddersfield, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea follow Southampton.
While his time at Selhurst Park remains longer than the shortest term for any Premier League manager – Les Reed’s 40 days at Charlton, followed by former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen’s 75 at Fulham – he oversaw two fewer games.
Palace produced an improved performance in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Burnley, whose goal was gifted to Chris Wood by an awful back-pass from Lee Chung-yong.
Previous losses to Premier League newcomers Huddersfield and struggling Swansea City did little to inspire optimism he could revive fortunes.
De Boer’s only victory in charge came over Championship side Ipswich, 2-1, in the Carabao Cup. Hodgson last worked in the Premier League with West Brom in 2012, before leaving to become England manager.
A year earlier he had inspired them, as he did with Fulham in 2007/08, to secure top-flight survival.
Between his time at Fulham and West Brom, Hodgson also had an un- successful spell at Liverpool that lasted only six months.
Born in Croydon, Hodgson spent three years on Palace’s books as a young defender in the 1960s before leaving without making an appearance.
His return would essentially bring his career full circle, in what could prove his final job.
Sam Allardyce believes Crystal Palace’s decision to sack De Boer just four matches into the Premier League season is a sign of the panic in the modern game.
De Boer went after losing his fourth of four league fixtures with the club.
“It is obviously very disappointing for him and for Palace,” De Boer’s predecessor Allardyce, who is not interested in a return, said.
“But it shows the panic in football today is ever increasing due to the size of the money and the fear of losing your position in the Premier League.
“As a manager, you have to live or die by your results and unfortunately now that is quicker than ever. It is a great shame that Palace have not continued where I left off. But I watched them on Sunday against Burnley and I have to say the fact they actually lost the game was beyond me.
“Twenty-two attempts at goal, complete domination but unfortunately the players at the end, when the chances came, couldn’t put the ball in the net.
“Four games with no points makes life extremely difficult for Palace.”
“It is a great shame that Palace have not continued where I left off”