If Silva signs for us as manager, I fear we will lose the best back room staff this club has ever had as Silva will bring in his own team. That would be a real shame. However, if we have the best season in the top flight (91/92 apart) with him (and his team), then it will be an inspired choice. Time will tell. We need to make wholesale changes.

Silva himself said Hull went down because of a poor pre-season and lack of players. No excuse this season, with our PL Asia Trophy and Schalke 04 before the season starts 12 August. Just a major clear out of fringe and out of contract players we are not keeping and signing some quality new additions.

In Europe it is not unusual for a manager to inherit a backroom staff. Little Sam and the rest of the crew all need jobs and as Allardyce has quit, I would imagine providing they can work with the new boss, be happy to stay.

If it is Silva we could quite easily see him and a right hand man turn up but the rest of the backroom staff are what's there now. it would certainly be a shame to lose them.

I'll be happy if he signs

Yes

Silva brought his own backroom with him to Hull, and they all resigned with him. So I imagine they would all come to Palace with him. But as you say, Sam did pull together a very good backroom staff and it would be a shame to see that dissolve away

If I put a few thousand on Pardew his odds will shorten....do you think that's because he is more likely to be the new manager ?

Bookies odds mean naff all.