Parish sacks Sage after 16 games

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has decided to sack Pierre Sage after only 16 games in charge. The Eagles are bottom of the Premier League following a 3-1 defeat at home to Liverpool on Sunday.

Thomas Frank is seen as an early front runner for the job and is understood to be interested in taking over at Selhurst Park. Parish also has long standing admiration for Sean Dyche and Coventry boss Frank Lampard, while former Palace defender Tony Popovic is a left-field option. However, the Eagles are understood to be more likely to go for someone with Premier League pedigree, and former Wolves and Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira is a potential successor.

Sage has fallen out with a number of senior players during his short tenure, with defender Axel Disasi dropped for a Europa League clash after reporting late for a team meeting. Parish was also unhappy when Jayden Canvot was left out earlier this season.

Sage did not want to speak about his future after the Liverpool loss, saying: "It’s not from the dream to the nightmare. 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." Sage has won just five of his 16 games as Palace manager, with only two victories coming in the Premier League.