We've taken a look at the contenders to succeed Pierre Sage at Crystal Palace following the club's poor start to the season.
The task of succeeding Oliver Glasner at Selhurst Park was always going to be a difficult one for whoever was entrusted to lead the Eagles following an unprecedented period of success.
Over the course of just two-and-a-half years at Palace, Glasner led the club to their first-ever major trophy with the FA Cup, before adding European honours in the UEFA Conference League last season.
Former Lens manager Sage was given the unenviable assignment of stepping into the Austrian's shoes but has so far failed to live up to expectations in the hot seat.
His position at the club became increasingly tenuous following the 5-0 drubbing at the hands of rivals Brighton last weekend, and confidence that he is the right man to lead the club forward - particularly as they navigate a maiden Europa League campaign - appears to be in short supply.
Sunday's 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle United leaves Palace just a point above the relegation zone and Sage's position is now even more uncertain.
With that in mind, we've taken a look at five potential candidates to be the next Crystal Palace manager.
Next Crystal Palace Manager Contenders
Rob Edwards
The current leading candidate to replace Sage in the event that Palace opt for change is former Wolves head coach Rob Edwards.
Middlesbrough were challenging for promotion when Edwards opted to take over at Molineux last season with Wolves languishing at the bottom of the table without a single Premier League win.
Ultimately the task would too great for the Englishman and Wolves were relegated at the end of the season, but not without showing some signs of improvement.
Edwards has taken a break from management since he was sacked at the end of the season but reports suggest he has a close working relationship with Palace sporting director Matt Hobbs and is viewed favourably by the club's hierarchy.
Thomas Frank
Before Palace opted to appoint Sage as Glanser's successor it was reported that Thomas Frank was one of the candidates under consideration by the clubs board.
Like his fellow list entrant Edwards Frank's last managerial role did little to demonstrate his ability in the dugout.
The Dane spent just seven months at Tottenham before being unceremoniously sacked in February with the club lingering above the relegation places.
Prior to that spell however Frank had forged a reputation as one of the brightest young managers in English football during his time in charge of Brentford.
After initially joining the Bees as an assistant coach to Dean Smith, Frank would go on to take the reins and lead the club from the second tier into the Premier League and Europe.
Kieran McKenna
When Kieran McKenna emphatically led Ipswich Town back the the Premier League at the first time of asking last season it was expected that he would once again take charge of the Tractor boys in the top flight.
Ultimately though the 40-year-old opted to depart on his own terms, announcing that he was stepping down as manager just one month later to take a break from coaching.
The decision brought down the curtain on a five-year spell at Portman Road in which he led the club to three promotions.
Given his various successes it's no surprise that McKenna has been continually linked with a return to management ever since, and Crystal Palace with their European football could represent the perfect next step for his burgeoning career.
Eddie Howe
Though the writing may have been on the wall for Eddie Howe when his time at Newcastle United came to an end this summer it was nonetheless surprising to see one of the Premier League's longest-tenured managers step down.
In leading the Magpies to victory in the 2024-25 EFL Cup Howe delivered Newcastle their first major domestic trophy for over half a century and he will forever be well-remembered on Tyneside for his time at the club.
Like McKenna, it feels like more a question of when rather than if Howe will once again take the reins in the Premier League this season.
Across spells at both Newcastle and Bournemouth Howe has demonstrated a predilection for taking on a long-term project and Palace could be the perfect club for him to mould to his style in the coming years.
Vitor Matos
A relative unknown in English football when he took over at Swansea City last year Vitor Matos has since earned plaudits for his success in South Wales.
When he arrived at the club the Swans were languishing perilously close to the relegation zone, having failed to win back-to-back league games in over six months.
He went on to turn the club's fortunes around and secured a comfortable mid-table finish in his first season in English football.
It is what Matos has done since then however that has made him so coveted as Premier League clubs consider their potential managerial options.
Swansea have enjoyed a flying start to the new campaign and their performances have reportedly caught the eye of the Palace hierarchy, who are said to view Matos as a potential candidate.
