January 4 2011

Steve Coppell

Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish plans to discuss the new manager's position at the club with Steve Coppell.

Parish and the CPFC2010 board sacked George Burley after Palace's 3-0 loss at Millwall on New Year's Day with Palace languishing in the bottom three.

Coppell, who took charge of the club's best ever side in the early 1990s, was at Selhurst Park for the Eagles' 1-0 win over Preston on Monday and Parish wants to sound out the experienced manager over a replacement for Burley.

"I don't know what Steve's situation is," said co-chairman Parish. "I will be having a chat with him, Steve would be a great sounding board for us in terms of who we should get, he cares for the club deeply.

"The word legend is used too often but in his case he's a definite legend here. He's been a fantastic manager at almost every club he's been to and he's definitely someone who I would be mad not to have a chat to.

"I don't expect Steve Coppell to apply for the manager's job at Crystal Palace, but I think it would be silly not to at least speak to him, ask him his advice or see where his head is at at the moment."

Former Newcastle boss Chris Hughton has been linked with the Eagles after being seen in the stands at the Millwall vs Palace game.

Parish said: "I have never met him in my life. He came to the Millwall game presumably because he was in town and he wanted to take in a game in London. That obviously set everybody talking.

"But I've not spoken to Chris, I've not had a job application from Chris, obviously he's a very good young manager so if he applies for the job we would consider it out of courtesy, but I've not spoken to him and I don't even know if he wants the job."

Parish wants to have a new man in as this week as the January transfer window is now open and players need to be traded.

"We would like to have someone in before the weekend but we are in the transfer window and that’s more of an issue really," he said.

"With the current player set up we have got I am more than comfortable with Dougie Freedman looking after the team but we have got to get some fresh faces in, not least because we have got some loan situations we are not sure about, so the sooner the better really from that point of view.

"But I would rather get it right than have someone right now as it is important we make the right decision and we do not want to rush into it. We have got to balance those things.

"I think it is important we find someone who fits with the club and the culture of Crystal Palace.

"It is more important for me how the person operates, what their philosophy is and what affinity they have towards the club."