By Crystal Ugoeze
Crystal Palace are reportedly closing in on the appointment of former Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford manager Thomas Frank as their new head coach following the dismissal of Pierre Sage.
According to Sky Sports, the Danish tactician has emerged as the leading candidate to take charge at Selhurst Park, with discussions already held with his representatives over a possible move.
Palace dismissed Sage on Thursday after a disappointing spell in charge, as the club struggles at the bottom of the Premier League table.
The Frenchman managed 16 matches across all competitions but failed to deliver the improvement expected by the club following the departure of Oliver Glasner.
Crystal Palace have endured a difficult start to the league campaign, sitting bottom after 10 matches and recording the worst defensive record in the division, having conceded more goals than any other team.
The club had reportedly been assessing potential replacements for several weeks, with Coventry City manager Frank Lampard among those considered for the position.
However, Frank has now moved to the forefront of the race, with Palace increasingly confident of securing his services.
The 53-year-old was previously in charge of Tottenham Hotspur but was dismissed in February after a disappointing campaign that left the north London club in 16th position.
Tottenham subsequently slipped further down the table before eventually avoiding relegation on the final day of the season, finishing 17th.
Despite his difficult experience at Spurs, Frank’s managerial record at Brentford remains a major attraction for Crystal Palace.
He spent several years with the west London club, overseeing more than 300 matches across the Championship, Premier League and other competitions.
Frank played a significant role in establishing Brentford as a competitive Premier League side, demonstrating his ability to build a team, develop players and compete against more established clubs.
Palace will hope his experience and previous achievements can help rescue their struggling campaign and restore stability at Selhurst Park.