Sam Allardyce appointed Crystal Palace manager on two-and-a-half-year deal — reports

Former England manager Sam Allardyce has agreed to take over Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace, British media were reporting on Friday night.

Sam Allardyce is expected to be named the new Crystal Palace manager, replacing Alan Pardew who was sacked on Thursday. Dan Mullan / Getty Images

Former England manager Sam Allardyce on Friday night was reported to have agreed to take over as manager of Crystal Palace on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

Allardyce, who in September left England after 67 days and one match, has been named as successor to Alan Pardew, who was dismissed on Thursday.

Allardyce, 62, arrived at Palace’s Beckenham base on Friday afternoon to meet with Palace chairman Steve Parish.

“Just here to complete talks, talk to Steve and [if] everything goes all right it should be OK,” he told Sky Sports News.

Allardyce will take training today ahead of the league game at fellow London club Watford on Monday.

Asked if everything could be sorted in time for the trip to Vicarage Road, he replied: “We’ll wait and see. It’s early days. Been a bit of a rush.”

Regarding his role, he said that it was a “fantastic” prospect.

It was announced last night by the BBC and Sky Sports that the deal had been agreed.

Allardyce lost his dream job with the English Football Association after a newspaper sting where he made ill-advised comments to undercover reporters.

He has taken his time to ponder his future and Palace represents an ideal opportunity.

The club, 17th in the table, dismissed Pardew after just one win in 11 Premier League matches.

Pardew paid the price for a meagre six Premier League wins in 2016 — but also potentially suffered after claiming just three weeks ago that Palace’s American owners “perhaps don’t know a lot about football”.

Parish pledged to “wind the dial back the other way” from Pardew’s attacking style — a move that would perfectly fit Allardyce’s approach.

Assistant manager Keith Millen hosted the news conference to preview Monday’s match.

On its conclusion, the assembled media were immediately asked to vacate the room which included the branded signage that any new manager would pose in front of for club photographs.

Allardyce arrived soon afterwards.

Millen said Allardyce has Premier League pedigree thanks to his stints with Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, West Ham United and latterly Sunderland.

“I don’t know if he’s got a point to prove with his career in league football, because he’s been very successful,” Millen said.

* Press Association

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