Merry Christmas everybody!
Alan Pardew has been sacked by Crystal Palace, just three days before Christmas. In fairness to Pards, he has bagged himself a £5 million pay off, and it comes after an insipid run of form, in which Palace picked up fewer points across 2016 than any other side in England's top four divisions.
The timing does seem strange, and Palace said in their statement that "with games now coming thick and fast over the holiday period the Club are hoping to put someone in place as quickly as possible but have nothing to say about a replacement at this time".
While Palace have yet to say anything officially regarding Pardew's successor, reports claim that Big Sam Allardyce is the favourite for the job, and is travelling to meet Palace chairman Steve Parish for talks regarding the job.
Sam Allardyce’s representatives will meet for talks with Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish in the next 24 hours
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) December 22, 2016
No agreement in place yet between Palace and Allardyce
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) December 22, 2016
Allardyce left the England national job in disgrace earlier this year, when he was filmed undercover in a Telegraph sting operation investigating corruption in football.
