November 12 2003

Kit Symons

By placing Kit Symons in temporary charge for a month, chairman Simon Jordan has given himself time to find the right man to manage Palace, by Joseph O'Shea.

After taking a point on Saturday, Symons and assistant Stuart Gray will be in charge for games against Walsall (a), Stoke (a), Coventry (h), Aston Villa (a) in the league cup and the return clash with Preston (a).

If they can help pull Palace away from the drop zone, they may persuade Jordan to stop searching for his sixth manager in three years.

And judging by the way some out-of-work managers have reacted to speculation linking them with Selhurst this week, Jordan may struggle to find someone better suited to the job than Symons.

Although desperate to return to management, sacked Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle used his media contacts to rule him out of the job this week, because he doesn’t think he could work with the chairman.

Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock also played down reports having taken Argyle to the top of Division Two.

He said: "It's pure media speculation. I've got a job of work to get on with and I'm not prepared to discuss surmise. At the end of the day it just upsets everyone."

Having priced himself out of the Nigeria job, Bryan Robson’s search for work will apparently see him target SE25.

Robson was over-looked when he first applied back in April, and if Nigeria can’t afford him, it is unlikely Palace can.

Peter Reid’s sacking as Leeds manager has seen him linked, while the vacancy at Elland Road is more likely to interest fans' choice George Graham than the struggling Eagles.

If Paul Hart or Neil Warnock are lured to Elland Road, the vacancy at Nottingham Forest or Sheffield United will make Jordan’s search more difficult.

Oldham manager Iain Dowie remains the bookies favourite despite the Latics’ mid-table position, but he is staying tight-lipped about his future. Joe Kinnear, Steve Cotterill, Graham Rix and Gerry Francis have also been linked.

Symons will be without Aki Riihilahti (shin) and Darren Powell (thigh) for his five games in charge, but Michael Hughes is back in training. Shaun Derry is suspended for Walsall, while Tony Popovic and Jamie are both on four bookings.