Crystal Palace are reportedly open to a reunion with former manager Roy Hodgson.
On Friday morning, Palace announced that they had taken the decision to sack Patrick Vieira after failing to win a single game since the turn of the year.
While the Eagles still occupy 12th position in the Premier League standings, they sit just three points above the relegation zone and five ahead of bottom spot.
Although Paddy McCarthy, the club's Under-21 boss, has been placed in temporary charge for Sunday's Premier League fixture at Arsenal, Palace will now assess their options.
Ralph Hasenhuttl and Marcelo Bielsa - formerly of Southampton and Leeds United respectively - have both emerged as potential contenders, according to bookmakers.
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However, with a number of leading outlets, Hodgson has been made the favourite, despite initially retiring from management when he left Palace in 2021.
According to the Daily Mail, the Palace hierarchy are prepared to hand the veteran a short-term contract should they deem it to be the correct move.
Between 2017 and 2021, Hodgson established Palace as a Premier League club, keeping the London outfit in the top flight on four occasions and winning 54 of his 162 matches in charge.
When the former England manager left Selhurst Park, it was widely felt to be the correct decision for the progression of the club, Vieira arriving and stamping his mark behind the scenes.
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Nevertheless, at the age of 75, Hodgson may return to the club over the international break if the Palace board do not identify a more suitable candidate.
Hodgson has already ended his retirement on one occasion, being brought in by Watford in January 2022 to try to achieve what Palace would be looking for on this occasion, survival in the Premier League.
Instead, Hodgson recorded two wins and 13 defeats during an 18-game spell at Vicarage Road, subsequently resulting in the Hornets being relegated to the Championship.
No decision is expected to be made by Palace until early next week, the focus instead being placed on the weekend's fixture at the league leaders.
Darren Plant
