Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace future uncertain with Steve Cooper available for free
Crystal Palace would not face a double compensation bill to replace manager Roy Hodgson with former Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper.
Telegraph Sport understands that Cooper was not put on gardening leave by Forest and is free to resume work at any stage he receives an offer and wishes to return.
Cooper is believed to be admired by Palace, along with Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, with pressure on Hodgson as the club slips worryingly closer to the Premier League relegation zone.
Palace would have to pay Hodgson off for the 76-year-old to leave before his contract ends at the end of the season, but would, according to sources, not face a compensation bill to appoint Cooper as his successor.
It remains to be seen whether Cooper would be prepared to make a quick return to management, or would prefer a break, having only left Forest 10 days ago.
Pressure has been building on Hodgson during a run that extended to just two wins in 16 games following the defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
There have been some encouraging performances in that run, against Liverpool, and Chelsea, and in the comeback draw against Manchester City, but Palace now face a vital home game against Brentford on Saturday.
Palace are just three points above third-from-bottom Luton Town and a point behind Brentford, who have lost their last four games and have been ravaged by injuries.
Hodgson did a superb job to save Palace from relegation last season and has had to contend with injuries to star men Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze as his team have managed to score just 19 goals in their 19 games so far this season.
Following the defeat by Chelsea, Hodgson pre-empted any questions over his future or relegation fears by saying: “The next question is whether I’m frightened to death now because we’re only a few points above the relegation zone. I’ll answer that one for you as well: No, I’m not.
“It doesn’t matter to me who is top of the league at this moment in time. It didn’t matter to me that Aston Villa could have won last night and gone top or lose and finish third or fourth.
“What bothers me is 38 games and where we’re going to be. And what I think is that with this team and the way we’ve played in the last four games, home to Liverpool where we didn’t deserve to lose that one. Man City where we defended well and got ourselves a credible point. Brighton, tough team, 1-1 and a point.
“Chelsea, one of the top teams in the country if not the world, we’ve come out and matched them step for step. That gives me great hope and heart for the future.
“I’m sad at the moment because I think we should be sitting here one point better off and we’d be talking about what a good performance.”
