Sam Allardyce appointed as new Crystal Palace manager

Crystal Palace have appointed Sam Allardyce as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal one day after sacking Alan Pardew.

Pardew was sacked yesterday with the club languishing in 17th place in the Premier League having been at the club since January 2015.

Former England boss Allardyce left his home in Bolton this morning as his representatives began negotiations and after four hours of personal conversations with chairman Steve Parish the sides reached an agreement.

62-year-old Allardyce told the club’s website: “I hope we can bring some joy, particularly over Christmas and new year, but over the long term, between now and the end of the season.

“The club itself seems to be very ambitious. Certainly the chairman and the owners seem to be taking the club forward in the right direction.

“I like the look of the squad and that’s probably the reason that I am here because I feel the club can go forward from here and hopefully I can help it go forward.”

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.”

It means a fairly swift return to management for Allardyce who has been out of work since leaving his post as England boss by mutual consent at the end of September after 67 days and just one game following a newspaper investigation.

With Palace struggling in the top-flight after one win in 11 games, Parish, who co-owns the club with American investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer, admitted that Pardew’s “expansive style of football hasn’t worked”.

He added: “Relegation is so costly and I feel, with no blame attached, we got ourselves in a rut and need a change.”

Allardyce will take training tomorrow and oversee his first match on St. Stephens Day when Palace travel to Watford. He has never been relegated as a manager and secured promotion to the Premier League with both Bolton and West Ham.

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