Crystal Palace look set to hire Oliver Glasner as their new manager but former Premier League ace Stan Collymore believes that Graham Potter should be in contention to take Roy Hodgson’s place too.
HITC Football understands that, after impressing chairman Steve Parish during talks with the Crystal Palace chief, Oliver Glasner is the leading candidate to take over from a man who – with his 77th birthday only a few months away – is now comfortably the oldest manager ever to take charge of a Premier League team.
Stan Collymore, speaking to Caught Offside, believes it would be a shame of Roy Hodgson departed Selhurst Park altogether, believing that a behind-the-scenes, potentially directorial role would benefit not only Palace but the former England boss too.
“There is still a place for the 76-year-old in the sport,” argues Collymore, the one-time Liverpool and Aston Villa striker.
“What I think the legendary coach would be perfect for is going into a London club and being a head of football. A guy who can bring together everyone at a club to work towards a common goal.
“He would sit them down once or twice a week and coordinate things. He wouldn’t have to work seven days a week then. He’d be able to look after his health while still being involved in the sport he loves.
“Roy isn’t getting any younger and standing on the touchline of a Premier League pitch brings your heart rate up and takes a physical toll on your body, it is a proper test.”
Collymore also throws Graham Potter’s name into the mix as The Eagles step up their pursuit of a man to take Hodgson’s place in the dugout. Potter has been out of work since that disastrous spell at Chelsea a year ago but retains plenty of admiration for the way he helped transform Brighton and Hove Albion into one of the most free-flowing, well-run clubs in European football.
Then again, whether former Brighton boss would take up a job at bitter rivals Crystal Palace is another matter.
“I think it would be a very clever move for Crystal Palace to take on Roy Hodgson behind the scenes and use his years of experience in the sport to help take them forward,” Collymore adds.
“Then bring in a coach who can make the players better, such as Graham Potter, and work together towards propelling the London club up the hierarchy of English football – being regulars in the top 10 of the Premier League.”
Palace have also considered former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper – HITC Football understands – while being linked with Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna.
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