Crystal Palace go into tonight’s “relegation six-pointer” at Everton with Roy Hodgson no longer the manager of his boyhood club.
Farewell: Roy Hodgson this afternoon announced he was ‘stepping aside’ as Palace boss
The Eagles issued a statement this afternoon to confirm that 76-year-old Hodgson, now out of hospital following his collapse at the Beckenham training ground last Thursday, would be “stepping aside”.
It was, perhaps, along the lines of what Hodgson had intended to announce himself last week before he was rushed to hospital, the second time this season that he had endured a “health scare”.
The decision for the manager to leave, made by the club as much as Hodgson himself, follows a dire run of results that had soured his relationship with some fans, as characterised by The Athletic website as “a romance that ended in regrets”.
Ray Lewington, Hodgson’s long-standing loyal lieutenant, and Paddy McCarthy will be in the dug-out at Goodison tonight, while up in the directors’ box, alongside chairman Steve Parish, is expected to be Oliver Glasner, Hodgson’s chosen successor. To all intents and purposes, the Austrian has already started work as Palace manager, having been spotted at the weekend scouting Tottenham, one of the club’s next league opponents.
All parties – Parish and Hodgson, the American co-owners, even some fans groups – probably have cause to regret the way things ended for the manager after an association with Selhurst Park that goes back more than 60 years.
Installed: Oliver Glasner, the former Eintracht Frankfurt manager
In the end, just as in politics “all careers end in failure”, so in football management the only thing that matters is results, so Hodgson’s second spell in charge at Palace was heading for the inevitable because his side was in dire form and only five points clear of the relegation zone.
At least, with today’s announcement, the club and their manager emerged with some dignity, with what one Palace fanzine described as a “classy” farewell statement.
“This club is very special and means so much to me and has played a big part in my footballing life,” the former England manager said.
“I have fully enjoyed my time here across six seasons, as it has given me the chance to work with top-class players and staff doing what I love every day.
“However, I understand, given recent circumstances, it may be prudent at this time for the club to plan ahead, and therefore I have taken the decision to step aside so that the club can bring forward their plans for a new manager, as intended for this summer.
“I would like to thank Steve Parish and his American partners for their support, along with my coaching staff and backroom team who have helped me so much along the way…
“My thanks and respect also to the current squad of players who have been a pleasure to work with – they are a credit to the club and themselves. I am certain that our fans will continue to give their full support to the team for the remainder of this season and beyond.
“I am confident that the season will finish well and I wish the team every success in the weeks, months and seasons to come.”
Local hero: Palace fans have deep affection for ‘one of our own’ Hodgson
Chairman Steve Parish said: “Roy has a special place in Crystal Palace history and this will never be forgotten.
“After four years in which he led the club to maintaining Premier League status season after season, he once again joined us nearly a year ago to steady the ship, and worked wonders. That he then agreed to continue in the summer speaks volumes about his commitment to our club. Quite simply, we owe our continued Premier League status to Roy.
“I would like to thank Roy enormously for his service and wish him the very best for the future; it’s fair to say Roy has the keys to Selhurst Park and will always be welcomed back.
“On a personal note I would also like to thank Roy for his support, his professionalism and his friendship. He’s been the manager for half of the time we’ve been in the Premier League, I’ve enjoyed working with him and learning from him immensely.”
According to The Athletic, recent weeks had seen “a tacit acceptance” by Parish that the club had been wrong to offer a one-year extension contract to Hodgson in the summer.
Fond farewell: Roy Hodgson with Palace chairman Steve Parish
“That is a reflection of wider divisions among the general partners, who have also been a target for supporter anger, but it is easier to dismiss the manager than any of the more significant decision-makers,” the sports website said.
Hodgson’s increasing capacity for “misspeaking” – he had issued three apologies for remarks made in post-match interviews this season – had been one cause for concern.
But the final straw had come with the trouncing at Brighton, when Hodgson opted to bring on Michael Olise at half-time with the game out of reach at 3-0, despite the star player’s dodgy hamstring. Olise lasted barely 10minutes on the field before having to come off injured again.
Such matters will no longer be of direct concern for Hodgson, who departs with the best wishes and affection of the whole of the football community. And with Steve Parish knowing he might have handled the succession in a kinder, better manner.
Read more: Tributes paid to Hodgson: ‘A superb manager, a superb person’
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