December 23 2016

Sam Allardyce

Crystal Palace have announced that Sam Allardyce has signed a two and half year contract to be their new manager.

Allardyce will be in charge for the Boxing Day game against Watford.

He told the official Palace website: "You generally get a new job because there are difficulties at a club."

"I have to sort those difficulties out, hopefully with my experience, and try to get a few more results on the board, particularly over Christmas and New Year, to make everybody feel more comfortable."

"The club itself seems to be very ambitious, certainly the chairman," said Allardyce. "The owners seem to taking the club forward in the right direction. I like the look of the squad.

"That's probably the reason that I am here because I feel that the club could go forward from here and, hopefully, I can help it go forward."

Chairman Steve Parish added: "We are delighted to be able to make an appointment so quickly and fortunate that someone of Sam's calibre and experience was available".