Roy Hodgson’s job safe until end of season despite Crystal Palace’s alarming slide
CRYSTAL PALACE will wait until the end of the season before making a decision on the future of Roy Hodgson.
Hodgson, 72, is one of the bookies’ favourites to become the next Premier League boss to lose his job following Palace’s worrying slide.
They have not won a game since Boxing Day and have scored fewer goals than any other top-flight team this season.
But chairman Steve Parish wants to give Hodgson every opportunity to halt the decline despite the concerns of the club’s US co-owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer.
The ex-England boss is in the final five months of his contract and though there have been informal talks about a one-year extension, he has yet to agree a new deal.
Hodgson has repeatedly raised concerns about the lack of investment in his ageing squad and has sought assurances about future spending plans.
Wall Street financiers Harris and Blitzer have been reluctant to spend since buying a £100million stake in the club four years ago.
It was widely reported they were looking to sell their 36 per cent share last year but were unable to find a buyer.
Palace’s run of four points from seven games has left them just six points away from the drop zone and the next four games against fellow strugglers Newcastle, Brighton, Watford and Bournemouth will be crucial.
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Hodgson had hoped to use last month’s transfer window to strengthen a squad which has been decimated by injuries.
But a deal for West Brom full-back Nathan Ferguson fell through when the player failed a deadline-day medical and they lost out to West Ham over £22million forward Jarrod Bowen.
It left Hodgson with just out-of-favour Everton striker Cenk Tosun on a six-month loan deal after an equally frustrating summer when only £5m was spent on Jordan Ayew and James McCarthy.