Crystal Palace sack Pierre Sage with club bottom of table

Summarised from 5 outlets · 8 reports · Updated 13 Nov, 16:09 · Archive

Crystal Palace have sacked manager Pierre Sage after 16 games with the club bottom of the Premier League.

Crystal Palace have sacked manager Pierre Sage after 16 games in all competitions, with the club bottom of the Premier League table. Sunday's 3-1 home defeat by Liverpool proved the final straw, marking Palace's fourth consecutive league loss.

Sage was appointed in mid-June on a three-year contract to replace Oliver Glasner. The Frenchman had won the Coupe de France and achieved a second-place finish in Ligue 1 with Lens in his previous role. However, his spell at Palace has been disastrous. The club have won just two of their ten league matches under him and claimed only seven points from a possible 30. They have conceded 24 goals in the league, the worst defensive record in the Premier League.

The Guardian reports that some Palace players questioned Sage's training methods, though captain Dean Henderson was believed to have pledged his support after defeats by Newcastle and Tottenham. The Guardian also states that Sage had been made aware after the 5-0 defeat by local rivals Brighton in mid-October that he needed to tighten the defence.

Palace are also competing in the Europa League, where they sit 21st in the 36-team table with one win from four matches. Three members of Sage's coaching staff—Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa and Sandy Guichard—have also departed the club.

In a statement, Crystal Palace said: "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."

Thomas Frank, who was sacked as Tottenham manager in February, is in advanced talks to take over. The Danish manager had previously spoken to Palace in the summer and is said to be keen for a new challenge after his successful spell at Brentford. The Guardian reports that Sean Dyche, the former Nottingham Forest, Burnley and Everton manager, and Vítor Pereira, another former Forest manager, are among alternatives being considered.

Palace lost two of their main central defenders during the summer transfer window, with Marc Guéhi moving to Manchester City in January and Maxence Lacroix joining Chelsea. The club were also the lowest spenders across the Premier League in the summer transfer window.

How it is being reported

• Football Daily | Taking a brief minute to remember Pierre Sage’s impact at Crystal PalaceSign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! So farewell then, Pierre Sage . Many coaches leave under a cloud, not many have their departures completely obscured by the foul, retch-inducing one emanating from another team’s managerial circus, but such was Sage’s fate . The news section of Crystal Palace’s website helpfully tells you the amount of time it might take you to read each story it links through to. For example it should take four minutes or so to get through Tuesday’s “On this day: five big Crystal Palace birthdays”. “England: I love a knee slide!” will take you five. “Prize…Guardian Football · 13 Nov, 15:21
• Pierre Sage’s failure to fix defensive flaws leaves Crystal Palace seeking new solutionA losing run, set-piece struggles and a call for help led Steve Parish to cut ties with the manager after five months The moment that summed up Crystal Palace’s season under Pierre Sage came five minutes before half-time at Selhurst Park on Sunday. After Palace had gone close to taking the lead on numerous occasions against Liverpool, the Frenchman must have feared the worst when Alexis Mac Allister headed in from a soft free-kick conceded by Jefferson Lerma. The TV cameras immediately panned to Steve Parish in the stands. After the Palace chair removed his hands from in front of his eyes…Guardian Sport · 12 Nov, 14:00
• Pierre Sage sacked by Crystal PalaceThe Frenchman departs after a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat and with the Eagles bottom of the tableIndependent Sport · 12 Nov, 12:37
• Crystal Palace SACK Pierre Sage as rock-bottom Eagles shortlist Frank Lampard and six othersPierre Sage replaced Oliver Glasner at Selhurst Park in the summer after guiding Lens to a French Cup win and a second-place finish behind Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1Mirror Sport · 12 Nov, 12:30
• Crystal Palace sack Sage after 16 matchesCrystal Palace have sacked manager Pierre Sage after just 16 matches.Sky Sports · 12 Nov, 12:30
• Crystal Palace sack Sage after 16 matchesCrystal Palace have sacked manager Pierre Sage after just 16 matches.Sky Sports Football · 12 Nov, 12:30
• Pierre Sage sacked by Crystal Palace after 16 games with club bottom of leagueThomas Frank the leading contender to take over Palace have conceded league-high 24 goals Pierre Sage has been sacked as Crystal Palace’s manager after 16 games. The Frenchman, appointed in mid-June to replace Oliver Glasner, has gone after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat by Liverpool left his team bottom of the Premier League. Thomas Frank, out of work since his dismissal by Spurs in February, has emerged as the main candidate to succeed Sage. He spoke to Palace in the summer and is said to be keen for a new challenge after a successful spell at Brentford. Continue reading...The Guardian · 12 Nov, 12:27
• Crystal Palace sack boss Sage after 16 gamesCrystal Palace have sacked manager Pierre Sage after 16 games in charge and the club bottom of the table.BBC News · 12 Nov, 12:23

In this story: Crystal Palace · Pierre Sage · Thomas Frank · Liverpool · Oliver Glasner · Lens · Tottenham · Brentford

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