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Malky Mackay heads list in Crystal Palace’s hunt for safe pair of hands Malky Mackay heads list in Crystal Palace’s hunt for safe pair of hands
(3 days later)
The morning after the night before began pretty much the same way as every day for Crystal Palace’s players, albeit with one major difference. Instead of finalising preparations for Saturday’s opening match of the season at Arsenal with the Premier League’s manager of the season, it was left to Tony Pulis’s long-term assistant, Dave Kemp, to deliver confirmation of what everyone already knew.The morning after the night before began pretty much the same way as every day for Crystal Palace’s players, albeit with one major difference. Instead of finalising preparations for Saturday’s opening match of the season at Arsenal with the Premier League’s manager of the season, it was left to Tony Pulis’s long-term assistant, Dave Kemp, to deliver confirmation of what everyone already knew.
Yet the sense of disbelief at the former Stoke City manager’s decision to leave his post less than 48 hours before their trip to the Emirates extended far beyond the club’s training base in Beckenham. Club officials, including the co-chairman Steve Parish, refused to make any comment other than in the statement that was posted on the official website at 10am, which offered no explanation for the dramatic turn of events other than to thank Pulis for his efforts.Yet the sense of disbelief at the former Stoke City manager’s decision to leave his post less than 48 hours before their trip to the Emirates extended far beyond the club’s training base in Beckenham. Club officials, including the co-chairman Steve Parish, refused to make any comment other than in the statement that was posted on the official website at 10am, which offered no explanation for the dramatic turn of events other than to thank Pulis for his efforts.
Sources later admitted that no attempts have been made as yet to identify a long-term replacement and that the appointment will not be rushed despite the need to make additions to the squad before September. Keith Millen will take charge of the team against Arsenal, just as he did last October when Ian Holloway departed.Sources later admitted that no attempts have been made as yet to identify a long-term replacement and that the appointment will not be rushed despite the need to make additions to the squad before September. Keith Millen will take charge of the team against Arsenal, just as he did last October when Ian Holloway departed.
However, with Malky Mackay already installed as hot favourite due to his close ties to Palace’s sporting director Iain Moody from working together at Watford and Cardiff, the 42-year-old Scot would welcome the opportunity to resume his career at Selhurst Park. However, with Malky Mackay already installed as hot favourite due to his close ties to Palace’s sporting director Iain Moody from working together at Watford and Cardiff, the 42-year-old Scot would welcome the opportunity to resume his career at Selhurst Park.
The former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood and Neil Lennon are the other names being linked to the post, while Millen – who began his career as an apprentice at Palace before returning under Holloway – also refused to rule himself out of contention. “I’ve obviously not had a chance to think about my situation yet. I’ve had enough on my plate to deal with the players,” he said.The former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood and Neil Lennon are the other names being linked to the post, while Millen – who began his career as an apprentice at Palace before returning under Holloway – also refused to rule himself out of contention. “I’ve obviously not had a chance to think about my situation yet. I’ve had enough on my plate to deal with the players,” he said.
“We trained Thursday, our normal Thursday, and Tony said he had to shoot off to meet the chairman, which happens quite regularly and that was it really. I got a phone call from the chairman to say he was with Tony that night and asked if I would take the training and Saturday.“We trained Thursday, our normal Thursday, and Tony said he had to shoot off to meet the chairman, which happens quite regularly and that was it really. I got a phone call from the chairman to say he was with Tony that night and asked if I would take the training and Saturday.
“Dave said on behalf of Tony thanks for all the players have done and the hard work they have put in. They were asking why. This has happened now three times, so they were asking why. It’s important to reassure them they’d done nothing wrong.“Dave said on behalf of Tony thanks for all the players have done and the hard work they have put in. They were asking why. This has happened now three times, so they were asking why. It’s important to reassure them they’d done nothing wrong.
“Tony loved working with them. No problems there. Now, all of a sudden, they’re wondering who’s going to come in, what direction we’re going to go in.”“Tony loved working with them. No problems there. Now, all of a sudden, they’re wondering who’s going to come in, what direction we’re going to go in.”
Parish’s desire to bring Wilfried Zaha back to Selhurst Park after a disappointing start to his Manchester United career was one of several disputes with Pulis, who had asked to take a more hands-on approach in this summer’s transfer window. A delay in tying down key performers, including the winger Yannick Bolasie, on long-term contracts was another major flashpoint between the pair, while Palace’s failure to deliver on the key targets Steven Caulker and Gylfi Sigurdsson added to the divisions.Parish’s desire to bring Wilfried Zaha back to Selhurst Park after a disappointing start to his Manchester United career was one of several disputes with Pulis, who had asked to take a more hands-on approach in this summer’s transfer window. A delay in tying down key performers, including the winger Yannick Bolasie, on long-term contracts was another major flashpoint between the pair, while Palace’s failure to deliver on the key targets Steven Caulker and Gylfi Sigurdsson added to the divisions.
A left-back, striker and midfielder are still wanted before the end of the transfer window although Millen – who spent four weeks as caretaker last season – acknowledged that any recruitment could be on hold until a new manager is appointed. “All the time I’ve been here the manager has had a big say on the players that are signed,” he said. “We don’t pick the players for the manager to coach. The manager makes that decision. So that’s going to be key. We’ve got three games before the end of the window so we don’t want to have a bad start. I think the chairman will be really active this time round and bring the right person in.”A left-back, striker and midfielder are still wanted before the end of the transfer window although Millen – who spent four weeks as caretaker last season – acknowledged that any recruitment could be on hold until a new manager is appointed. “All the time I’ve been here the manager has had a big say on the players that are signed,” he said. “We don’t pick the players for the manager to coach. The manager makes that decision. So that’s going to be key. We’ve got three games before the end of the window so we don’t want to have a bad start. I think the chairman will be really active this time round and bring the right person in.”
Parish is due to make a public statement on Pulis for the first time on Saturday as the dust begins to settle. But in what must rank as one of the most surprising twists ever on the eve of a season, it was left to Millen to assess what Pulis’s departure will mean. “We have lost a great leader of the football club and a leader of men,” he said. Parish is due to make a public statement on Pulis for the first time on Saturday as the dust begins to settle. But in what must rank as one of the most surprising twists ever on the eve of a season, it was left to Millen to assess what Pulis’s departure will mean. “We have lost a great leader of the football club and a leader of men,” he said.
“Tony likes to control what goes on in the football club but he also controls the players. He’s very structured and organised and single-minded. He knows what he wants and you either do it or you don’t and the players understood that.”“Tony likes to control what goes on in the football club but he also controls the players. He’s very structured and organised and single-minded. He knows what he wants and you either do it or you don’t and the players understood that.”
Palace are about to find out just how much they will miss him.Palace are about to find out just how much they will miss him.