CRYSTAL PALACE CONSIDERS PIERRE SAGE'S FUTURE

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish is considering Pierre Sage’s future as manager after a 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle United. Palace sit 17th in the Premier League, one place above the relegation zone, and supporters booed the team after the match. The club have won twice, though accounts differ on whether they have played seven or eight league matches. Both accounts place Palace last in the division for goals conceded. Sage took responsibility for the Newcastle performance, saying: “We played so bad it’s my fault.”

Sage joined Palace in the summer after Oliver Glasner moved to Nottingham Forest. His previous club, Lens, finished second in Ligue 1, six points behind Paris Saint-Germain. Thomas Frank, Vitor Pereira and Robbie Keane are among the potential replacements under consideration if Parish decides to dismiss Sage. Sean Dyche and Carlos Corberan have also been named as possible candidates. Pereira previously worked with Palace sporting director Matt Hobbs at Wolves.

Parish is expected to decide Sage’s future before Palace face Tottenham next Saturday. Sage said after the Newcastle defeat that he believed the club’s leadership still backed him. “I think they do [believe in me],” he said. Sage said he had spoken to Parish during the week about the team and its plans for the match, but they had not discussed his position. He said any decision about his future belonged to the chairman and owners.