Crystal Palace have today sacked manager Alan Pardew after just under two years in charge at Selhurst Park.
The former West Ham and Newcastle boss oversaw a dreadful run of results, which saw the Eagles pick up just five points in their 11 games leading up to Christmas.
It capped off a miserable year for Palace in the Premier League, in which they have taken just 26 points from 36 league matches, meaning they have the worst points-to-game ratio in the whole of the Football League for 2016.
Pardew’s final game turned out to be their 1-0 home loss against league leaders Chelsea last weekend, a result which leaves them just a point and a place above the bottom three.
Despite the woeful league form, the 55-year-old did lead Palace to only their second FA Cup final in the club’s history against Manchester United earlier this year, although a Jesse Lingard strike in extra time saw off the Eagles at Wembley.
Attentions now turn to who may replace Pardew at the helm at Selhurst Park, so here are THREE managers who could take the Palace job…
Sam Allardyce
Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.
If Palace are genuinely concerned about relegation this season (why else would they sack Pardew?), then Sam Allardyce is the man to get them out of the mire.
The former England boss ended his tenure in charge of the Three Lions after just one game in charge back in September, but if he feels ready to return to the English game, then Palace could be the club for him.
He amazingly kept Sunderland up last season when it looked like they were certain for the drop, and he of course has never been relegated in his career.
Allardyce would bring stability, defensive solidarity, and a know-how to Selhurst Park – he could be the man for Palace.
Roy Hodgson
Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.
Another former England boss who might fancy a return to the English game, Roy Hodgson may look at the Palace job as a chance to prove himself again in the Premier League.
The 69-year-old resigned as the national team’s manager following their embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016, but has experience of the bottom of the Premier League, having kept Fulham in the league in 2008.
Although his stint at Liverpool didn’t go well, Hodgson kept West Brom in the Premier League in their first season back in 2011, and then helped them to their best finish of tenth the season after.
He could do a job at Palace.
Gary Rowett
Photo: Steve Parkin
A slightly longer term option, but could Palace be tempted by the currently unemployed Gary Rowett?
The 42-year-old was harshly sacked as Birmingham manager last week despite the Blues sitting eighth in the Championship, and 15 places higher than when he took over back in October 2014.
Rowett helped them to back-to-back tenth place finishes in the Championship amongst difficulties behind the scenes at St Andrew’s, and he clearly knew how to start building something at the club, and ultimately did a terrific job before harshly getting the boot.
If Palace are willing to back him and give him time, it could turn out to be a shrewd move by the Palace hierarchy.