Pierre Sage’s time as Crystal Palace manager is over after five months, with the club bottom of the Premier League. Palace have not named a successor. BBC Sport reports that talks with former Brentford and Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank have reached the closing stages.
Accounts of how Sage left differ. Here is where things stand.
Crystal Palace Confirm Pierre Sage’s Exit
Palace announced the change in a statement yesterday. Three of Sage’s coaching staff left with him: Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa and Sandy Guichard.
The club thanked them for their work and said an update on appointing a new manager would follow “in due course”. It did not say who is in charge of the team in the meantime.
Stepped Down or Sacked? The Two Accounts of Sage’s Departure
The club’s wording does not say Sage was sacked, and the reporting splits into two camps:
- He stepped down. The French regional daily La Voix du Nord reports that Sage stepped down, an arrangement it says suited both clubs. It says Palace wanted to avoid heavy compensation for a coach who could quickly find work elsewhere, and that Lens, the club Sage managed before Palace, did not want to pay a transfer fee.
- He was dismissed. RMC Sport reports that Palace removed Sage yesterday and that he leaves with a payment equivalent to 18 months’ salary.
Palace have not commented on the terms.
Thomas Frank Reported to Be Frontrunner for the Crystal Palace Job
BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel reports that Palace hope to complete a deal before the players return from international duty. Palace also looked at Sean Dyche, formerly of Everton and Nottingham Forest, and Toulouse head coach Jens Berthel Askou, according to the BBC, but Frank is regarded as the clear favourite.
Why Frank Is Available
Frank has been out of work since Tottenham dismissed him in February, and the BBC says he chose not to take a job over the summer.
How Sage’s Reign Unravelled
The BBC reports that Sage arrived in June on a three-year contract to replace Oliver Glasner, having led Lens to second place in Ligue 1 and their first French Cup. In England, the results never followed:
- Five wins from 16 games in all competitions, according to the BBC.
- Four straight Premier League defeats, starting with a 5-0 loss to Brighton and ending with a 3-1 home defeat by Liverpool on 8 November.
- 21st in the Europa League table, with one win from four matches.
The official Premier League table shows the cost:
| Pos | Club | Played | W-D-L | Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Coventry City | 10 | 3-0-7 | 10-19 | 9 |
| 18 | Manchester United | 10 | 1-5-4 | 14-19 | 8 |
| 19 | Sunderland | 10 | 2-2-6 | 8-17 | 8 |
| 20 | Crystal Palace | 10 | 2-1-7 | 10-24 | 7 |
No side has conceded more than Palace’s 24 goals.
Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick, with Mauricio Pochettino confirmed as his successor.
Coventry Away Comes First
Palace’s next three Premier League fixtures, from the official fixture list:
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 21 November | Coventry City v Crystal Palace | 15:00 |
| Sunday 29 November | Crystal Palace v Hull City | 14:05 |
| Wednesday 2 December | Chelsea v Crystal Palace | 19:30 |
The first of those matters most. As the table shows, Coventry are two points ahead, so a win would lift Palace above them. If a new manager is in place before the squad reunites, he would have most of the build-up to that game.
Final Thoughts
Sage’s exit is confirmed by the club; how it happened is disputed, and Frank’s appointment rests on the BBC’s reporting; Palace have not announced it. With Coventry first up, the timing will matter as much as the name.
FAQ
Who is Crystal Palace’s new manager?
Palace have not named one. BBC Sport reports that Thomas Frank is the clear favourite.
Was Pierre Sage sacked by Crystal Palace?
Accounts differ. The club says only that he has left; La Voix du Nord reports that he stepped down, while RMC Sport reports that he was dismissed.
When is Crystal Palace’s next match?
Coventry City away on Saturday 21 November at 15:00 UK time, according to the official fixture list.
