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Sam Allardyce: Former Crystal Palace manager approached over return

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments100

Sam Allardyce
Allardyce took over Crystal Palace in December and guided them to 14th place in the Premier league last season

Former Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed he spoke to club chairman Steve Parish over a return to Selhurst Park but said he was "not ready".

Allardyce resigned as Palace manager in May and his replacement Frank de Boer was sacked on Monday after five games.

Former England boss Roy Hodgson will replace De Boer, BBC Sport understands.

"I wouldn't feel comfortable taking a manager position, I am enjoying my life too much," Allardyce told Sky Sports.

"I spoke to Steve [Parish] late this afternoon and said that for me, I wouldn't be ready to come back.

"He didn't offer me the job, he just asked me, 'What are your thoughts?' I told him that at this moment in time, I wouldn't want to go back in."

Allardyce replaced Alan Pardew in December on a two-and-half-year deal with the Eagles one point above the Premier League relegation zone.

The 62-year-old, who had an ill-fated one-game spell as England boss, led Palace to eight wins in 21 games to guide them to a 14th-place finish last season.

Hodgson a good decision - Wright

Roy Hodgson
Roy Hodgson started his playing career at Palace and has previously managed Blackburn, Fulham and Liverpool in the Premier League

Hodgson has not managed in the top flight since leaving West Brom to become England manager in 2012.

This will be the 70-year-old's first job since quitting as manager of the national side after Euro 2016, when England were knocked out by Iceland.

But it is understood he "can't wait to get started" as Crystal Palace manager and former Eagles' striker Ian Wright believes it will be a sensible appointment.

Hodgson started his playing career at Palace and has previously managed Blackburn, Fulham and Liverpool in the top flight.

"People are talking about Hodgson's age. But he's got a love and passion for the game," Wright told BBC Radio 5 live.

"Of course he's not going there for the next 10 or 15 years. But he's steady, reliable, can get the dressing room going again and get some results.

"I think it's quite a good decision to get someone steady. The next few games are difficult. You need someone with experience who won't panic. The next month will be a rough period for Palace," added Wright, who played for Palace between 1985 and 1991,

Former England and Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas added: "Roy Hodgson will make sure they win games. What people will do is be negative and think of his spell with England.

"But he is a top European manager who knows exactly what he's doing. But he'll be pretty pragmatic and defensive. They'll stop conceding goals and will start to win games.

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100 comments

  • Comment posted by Eddie Mercury, at 21:40 11 Sep 2017

    My favourite Roy Hodgeson moment was during the Iceland game at Euro 2016 when he suddenly saw himself on the big screen looking lost and clueless to the horror unfolding in front of his eyes, and so he quickly adopted a thoughtful face pose whilst stroking his chin, as if he was pondering some wonderous managerial masterstroke.

  • Comment posted by D1679391846765, at 21:59 11 Sep 2017

    Frank DeBoer
    Over 120 caps for the Netherlands
    World cup semi finalist
    Countless trophies including the champions league for Ajax
    Barcelona legend

    He really is bigger than some small club from London with identity issues

  • Comment posted by grahame, at 21:33 11 Sep 2017

    Big Sam will be waiting until it's nearer xmas. He can demand a bigger bonus for keeping the club in the PL

  • Comment posted by letmedemonstrate, at 21:46 11 Sep 2017

    Allardyce left as a close personal friend of his was killed in the Manchester attack ... wanted to spend more time with his family ... can't argue with that. Better than working for that shambles of a club!

  • Comment posted by gooner chris, at 21:22 11 Sep 2017

    Hope palace get relegated, disgusting sacking a manager after a few games. De Boer will go on to better things following this

  • Comment posted by D1679304119067, at 23:16 11 Sep 2017

    Apart from Sutton, I find the punditry on this issue incredibly disappointing. What has Hodgson done in football apart from some Scandinavian league titles in the 1980s, qualify the Swiss once & lose a European final. Those are his only achievements in over 30 years. Yet he's talked about like some sort of football guru. In his own mind, I'm sure. He was an absolute laughing stock with England.

  • Comment posted by User0414103863, at 22:23 11 Sep 2017

    lol, Ian Wright would definitely not be a person to approach for any form of advice, especially football. I think this article proves it. CP are in a mess and only someone desperate would want the job. Hodgson will rally the players - the man has the charisma of a wet lettuce!

  • Comment posted by letmedemonstrate, at 22:19 11 Sep 2017

    Jenas on Hodgon ... "he is a top European manager" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Comment posted by ReformationPostTLC, at 03:55 12 Sep 2017

    Please sack Jermaine Jenas as a pundit; he hasn't got a clue.

  • Comment posted by Eddie Mercury, at 21:54 11 Sep 2017

    The Roy Hodgson chin stroking gif against Iceland I mentioned earlier - the sign of a man in full control of the situation

    https://media.giphy.com/media/BZoK0wdKuOGDm/giphy.gif

  • Comment posted by Missinginstereo, at 00:08 12 Sep 2017

    Who in their right mind would want Dougie Freeman dictating transfer policy and Parish meddling with team selection?

  • Comment posted by RayCee, at 04:49 12 Sep 2017

    Lack of respect. The name is Roy Hodgson, so why the W? Making fun of a slight speech impediment? Shameful. Sam Allardyce probably has better principals than many of his critics. I guess under anonymity you can cast the first stone. Sam is a saver of teams without equal. He worked hard to achieve that. Got caught by a mindless trap showing he isn't perfect. I respect him for his achievements.

  • Comment posted by Chelsea1, at 03:22 12 Sep 2017

    There's something seriously wrong with the board at crystal palace.
    New manager by Christmas

  • Comment posted by Neutral, at 23:30 11 Sep 2017

    Obviously the bung they offered big Sam wasn't big enough

  • Comment posted by Eels, at 22:15 11 Sep 2017

    If Roy's the answer. I'll bet the question was something along the lines of....'Which 70yr old did okay with Fulham & West Brom who are a bit like us so let's try to forget what happened with Liverpool & England and pray he's done the same?'. Football never ceases to amaze

  • Comment posted by Florence, at 22:33 11 Sep 2017

    Is there a pool of unsuccessful mangers which unsuccessful teams pass around among themseves, hoping for a miracle of some kind? Mr Allardyce has a somewhat questionable record in football matters so it would simply be ridiculous to see this indvidual return to football - the fit and proper test should extend to managers as well as owners.

  • Comment posted by Stuart J Woodward, at 21:23 11 Sep 2017

    There is clearly something fundamentally wrong at this club given their turnover of managers.

  • Comment posted by Champ20ns, at 22:32 11 Sep 2017

    Didn't palace speak of creating a new brand of football when they appointed de boer?

    I guess it's back to tried and tested hoofball after four games.

  • Comment posted by Henrys underpants, at 07:21 12 Sep 2017

    I wouldn't have any confidence in an executive team who recruit for a critical position within their organisation and then decide after just 77 days that the candidate wasn't suitable after all...

    who is holding these people to account?

  • Comment posted by D1679409050617, at 21:41 11 Sep 2017

    Top his pension up

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