Allardyce to meet Palace chairman – reports
Sam Allardyce will meet with Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish to talk about replacing Alan Pardew as manager, according to Sky Sports.
The former England boss would clearly relish working with a squad that is among the strongest outside the top six, with Christian Benteke, Wilfried Zaha, Andros Townsend and Jason Puncheon the star names.
Pardew was sacked after a woeful 2016 left him with only 26 points – only six fewer than Newcastle, who were relegated in May.
Allardyce is the overwhelming favourite for the job.
Parish exclusively told BBC Sport: “I’m not going to blame other people [American co-owners]. Relegation is so costly and I feel with no blame attached we got ourselves in a rut and need a change. We hope a change will change things.
“Even the most one-eyed opposition supporter would accept we’ve been on the end of some appalling [referee] errors over the last few games.
“We all bought into the decision to play a more expansive style of football. We all believed in it. That hasn’t worked. It’s no-one’s fault. The players have been running their socks off for Alan, the spirit is good.
“But now we’re going to wind the dial back the other way.
“We’re talking to a number of people to make sure we get this right, nothing has been agreed.”
Allardyce sent a detailed squad analysis and outline of January plan to CPFC's ?? co-owners in late November. Does it outstrip concerns?
— Ed Malyon (@eaamalyon) December 22, 2016
