Crystal Palace have confirmed the sacking of Pierre Sage, with Thomas Frank emerging as the leading candidate to become the new Eagles boss. The club have also announced that three members of Sage's backroom staff have left the club.
Selhurst Park chief Steve Parish has ended Sage's brief tenure in south London following a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat, which sent the Eagles to the bottom of the table for the first time in almost nine years. The last time Palace sat in last place was December 2017, and their 3-1 home defeat to Liverpool on Sunday heaped further doubt on the manager's position.
Club statement confirms exits
Palace issued a statement on Thursday afternoon which read: "Crystal Palace Football Club can confirm that Pierre Sage has left his role as Manager. Three members of Pierre's coaching staff – Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa and Sandy Guichard – have also left the club."
The statement continued: "The club would like to place on record its thanks to Pierre and his staff for their efforts during their time in South London, and wish them well for the future. An update on the process of appointing a new Manager will be provided in due course."
Frank and Dyche in contention
Frank features among the prime contenders to succeed Sage, with Sean Dyche also being mentioned as a possible successor. Ex-Tottenham boss Frank has remained unemployed since being dismissed by the north London club in February, while Dyche was removed from his position by Nottingham Forest during the same month.
Sage had only taken charge at Palace in June, stepping in for Oliver Glasner, who had guided the Eagles to success by clinching the FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Conference League.
Sage's record at Palace
Sage becomes the second Premier League manager to lose his job this season, just hours after Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick. He secured victory in just two of his 10 Premier League outings, while also enduring difficulties in the Europa League, claiming just one win and two draws from their four league phase fixtures.
He did, nonetheless, steer Palace into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, with a Selhurst Park clash against Sunderland scheduled for next month. Speaking following the weekend defeat to Liverpool, Sage maintained it had not gone "from the dream to the nightmare."
In what would ultimately prove his final press conference at Palace, Sage remained resolute in his determination to haul the club back up the table. He said: "I'm not feeling this. I'm just in my job, and focusing on my job, and what I have to do to find the solution."
He added: "I was really happy to sign here, to join this club. Especially for the moment, the results are not at this level, and I know I have to push more on those things, especially in our way of playing, to make that move."
