Crystal Palace: Roy Hodgson is ‘strong contender for surprise return’ after Patrick Vieira’s departure

Former Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson is a ‘strong contender’ to return to the club following their decision to sack Patrick Vieira.

Vieira was sacked on Friday morning with 12th-placed Crystal Palace just three points clear of the relegation zone.

The Eagles have not won in the Premier League since New Year’s Eve. They have five draws and six defeats since their last victory, which came against AFC Bournemouth.

Crystal Palace come up against Arsenal this weekend. This is their final game before the international break.

It has subsequently been reported that

Reports have indicated that McCarthy ‘could land the job on an interim basis until the end of the season if he impresses’.

are looking at alternative options, though. David Ornstein of The Athletic is reporting that Hodgson is a ‘strong contender’ for the vacant manager’s job.

Hodgson previously spent four years as Palace’s manager. He departed the club prior to the 2021/22 campaign.

The 75-year-old would ‘take charge of the relegation-threatened club until the end of the season’ and this would be ‘considered a surprise return’.

The report adds: ‘Other candidates will also be assessed as the situation is evaluated by the Palace hierarchy over the coming days’.

A separate report from Sky Sports states that Hodgson is ‘in talks to return’ to Crystal Palace.

Palace ‘have spoken to a number of candidates, including Adi Hutter (former Borussia Monchengladbach boss)’ but Hodgson is the ‘clear frontrunner’.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has told Sky Sports that they are “not looking past” this weekend’s game vs Arsenal.

“Maybe things might have changed [for the better] anyway, but I couldn’t be sure of it so I’ve made the call I have and we move forward from here.

“Everybody loved Patrick, he never lost the players at all. They were still running for him but things weren’t happening. We’re just hoping now that there is some fresh impetus, a few different ideas.

“Maybe we can surprise the opposition by doing something different as we’ve got good players and have got a good squad. They followed Patrick and now they will follow Paddy [McCarthy] and Darren [Powell] to do the best for the football club.

“The mood is never bad and everyone is positive and believe we can win matches. Everyone is still positive for the game against Arsenal on Sunday. We’re not looking past Sunday. We’re not interviewing managers while we have the current set-up as that would be disrespectful.

“We want to give Paddy and Darren a clear run at it on Sunday. We’ve got our own list and that kind of thing but our focus is on facing Arsenal.”