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Alan Pardew linked with Crystal Palace manager’s job
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has avoided commenting on reports that he could become the new Crystal Palace manager.
Former Eagles player Pardew, 53, failed to fulfil media duties after Sunday’s 3-2 win over Everton.
Newcastle assistant John Carver, who did the post-match conference, said: “Alan didn’t say why I was doing the press, he just told me to do it.”
Palace sacked Neil Warnock on Saturday after four months in charge with the side in the relegation zone.
Pardew is odds-on favourite with several bookmakers to return to his old club.
Other potential contenders linked with the vacancy include another former Palace player – Tony Popovic – who has impressed in Australian club management and former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood.
If Pardew was to move to south London he would be swapping ninth-placed Newcastle for a team lying third bottom in the Premier League.
Alan Pardew at Newcastle |
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| Signed a five-and-a-half year deal when he took over from Chris Hughton in December 2010. Pardew had been dismissed by Southampton four months earlier. | Given a contract extension until 2020 by Magpies owner Mike Ashley in September 2012, although the side finished 16th later that season and only escaped relegation by five points |
| Guided Newcastle to fifth spot in the 2011-12 season and a place in the Europa League. Named as both Premier League and League Managers’ Association manager of the year. | In October 2014, Pardew said his family had been affected amid calls for him to be sacked with the club second bottom. They are now ninth, although lost a fourth successive derby against Sunderland. |
But the former Reading, West Ham, Southampton and Charlton boss, who took over from Chris Hughton in 2010, has endured a mixed spell in the north east, with fans calling for him to be sacked earlier in the season.
The Eagles are 18th in the table and face a battle against relegation but Pardew has a strong connection with the club.
As a midfielder he spent four years there from 1987, and scored the winning goal as Palace beat Liverpool 4-3 after extra-time in a 1990 FA Cup semi-final. He played in the final and the replay as Manchester United triumphed.
Another potential candidate for the post is Palace caretaker boss Keith Millen, who says he is ready to take over full-time after the dismissal of Warnock.
Millen oversaw Palace’s goalless draw against Queens Park Rangers.
The 48-year-old was overlooked for the job when Tony Pulis left the south London club at the start of the season.
But Millen said: “I’m ready for it. The players respect me. I’ve done it enough times.”
Millen, usually an assistant coach, managed the club for four league matches last season in the month they took to replace Ian Holloway with Welshman Pulis.
“It’s about respect. I respect the players and what they’re about and hopefully they respect me for my knowledge and hard work with them,” added Millen, whose team are currently third from bottom of the Premier League.
“You do have to detach yourself from the players as a manager, but also with Premier League players you have to make sure they understand what you want from them.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be in charge for. I have not been told I’ve got a chance and I haven’t spoken to the chairman [Steve Parish] about myself.”
BBC Sport