Steve Cooper, the former manager of Nottingham Forest, decides whether to take over at Crystal Palace.
According to insiders who spoke to Football Insider, Crystal Palace wants to fire manager Roy Hodgson, but Steve Cooper, the team’s favored alternative, is unwilling to take over in the middle of the season.
Palace has inquired with the former Nottingham Forest manager about succeeding Hodgson, 76, immediately.
The experienced manager’s contract expires in the summer, and the Welshman would rather wait until then to depart Selhurst Park.
Cooper, 44, is rumored to prefer having a complete preseason at any new position so he can properly implement his strategies.
Since his dismissal from Nottingham Forest earlier in the 2023–24 season, he has not had a job.
After being humiliated 4-1 by rivals Brighton on Saturday, 3 February, Hodgson is in danger at Selhurst Park.
With 15 games remaining, Palace’s lead over the Premier League relegation zone is barely five points, despite his leading the team to a vital victory over Sheffield United last week.
During the Brighton match, placards protesting Steve Parish’s ownership were raised.
Before agreeing to a one-year extension in the summer, Hodgson helped Palace avoid relegation during his last term, having returned to the team in March 2023.
At Nottingham Forest, Cooper had only triumphed once in his previous 13 Premier League games, and the Midlands club found itself ranked 17th overall.
With Forest, he was promoted in 2022 and contributed to their Premier League survival the previous year.
In other developments, Kieran Maguire was taken aback by the Palace’s Parish demand.
