Roy Hodgson set to step down as Crystal Palace boss
Roy Hodgson is on the verge of stepping down as Crystal Palace boss after being taken to hospital on Thursday with his replacement already lined-up.
The former England manager is currently enjoying his second spell at Selhurst Park but Oliver Glasner is ready to succeed him. It is understood Hodgson remains in a stable condition after requiring medical treatment after feeling unwell during a training session.
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Palace chairman Steve Parish was alongside the 76-year-old when he was taken to hospital, but the Guardian report he is expected to confirm that Hodgson will stand down from his post for the last four months of his contract and be replaced by Glasner.
Glasner led Frankfurt to the Europa League back in 2022 and could yet be confirmed as the next Eagles boss before Monday’s game at Everton, but he’s unlikely to take charge. Hodgson’s assistants Ray Lewington and Paddy McCarthy have been putting the players through their paces this week.
Hodgson’s future was hanging by a thread even before his health scare this week. The Eagles lost once again on Monday night as Chelsea scored twice late on, with some reports suggesting that loss was to prove the last straw for Parish, who had identified Glasner as his prime candidate.
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, who led the Tractor Boys to promotion last year, was considered as a candidate before the Eagles opted for the Europa League winner, who has agreed a contract worth about £4.5m a season until 2026, with the option of a further year.
Hodgson returned to south London last season when the Eagles looked as if they were heading into a relegation scrap. He replaced Patrick Vieira and immediately achieved results, which saw him retained for the current campaign.
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However the veteran boss has been unable to keep that momentum going with Palace winning just four of their last 18 games as they, once again, find themselves heading towards the bottom three.
Parish was due to be forced into a decision with the fans venting their anger in a recent defeat at Arsenal. The away fans held up a banner that read: “Wasted potential. On and off the pitch, weak decisions. Taking us backwards.” Another one said: “No shared vision. No structured plan. Parish out, Yanks out.”