Overview
- Palace sacked Pierre Sage on Thursday after five months and 16 games following a run of heavy defeats that left the club bottom of the Premier League with the division’s worst defensive record.
- Discussions with Thomas Frank are described as advanced but unfinished and have been slowed by talks to secure several assistants who worked with him previously.
- The board is keeping alternatives under review, with Sean Dyche, Vitor Pereira, Rob Edwards and Toulouse’s Jens Berthel Askou among names reported as being considered.
- Squad availability is constrained as Jørgen Strand Larsen was released by Norway on 10 November to continue ankle rehabilitation at Palace, several players are injured or suspended, and Palace travel to Coventry on Saturday 21 November.
- The delay raises urgent sporting risks because Palace need a rapid stabilising appointment to fix defensive issues, lift morale and avoid a prolonged relegation fight during a congested winter schedule.