Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic is being linked to a fairytale return to Crystal Palace after the English Premier League club parted with their coach.
Popovic, a former Palace assistant coach and player, is being touted among candidates to replace Tony Pulis, who is believed to have split with the EPL club some 48 hours before the season kickoff.
Popovic and the Wanderers weren’t immediately available for comment on Friday, but the A-League club won’t stand in the way of any move.
He was an assistant coach at Palace in 2011 and spent five seasons playing for the south Londoners.
Popovic was named by some British media reports as a possible contender in a field including former Celtic boss Neil Lennon, ex-Manchester United manager David Moyes and ex-Cardiff chief Malky Mackay.
The job opened up after talks between Pulis and Palace co-chairman Steve Parish reportedly broke down with Pulis frustrated at not being able to sign the players he wanted.
Pulis led Palace to an impressive 11th place finish in the Premier League last season after inheriting a squad languishing in the relegation zone in November.
The Welshman completely transformed Palace’s fortunes and was named the League Managers Association’s Premier League manager of the year in May.
Before reports of the meeting involving Pulis and Parish emerged, Palace clinched their fourth signing since the end of last season with the STG1.5 million ($A2.7 million) capture of Liverpool defender Martin Kelly.
Pulis had previously signed Chris Kettings, Fraizer Campbell and Brede Hangeland, but is said to be disappointed Parish couldn’t push through deals for Steven Caulker, Michu and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Instead, Caulker signed for QPR, Michu joined Napoli and Sigurdsson returned to Swansea from Tottenham.
Pulis is believed to have wanted total control of Palace’s recruitment policy, but Parish was reluctant to let the manager be in sole charge of player movement as he wanted to avoid putting the club’s future at risk by over-spending.
Bondy
Guest
AZ Good news ...
AZ_RBB
Guest
We crossed 14k members today. Pretty happy with that. Expecting memberships to sell out by the end of the week. Total across the league is beyond 72k. Take Nix out of the equation and you have an average of 8k for each Aussie club, two months out from the start of the season. Wouldn't be surprised if the average ends up something near 11k.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I hope he doesn't, both for WSW sake and his own. Sounds like one of those situations where whoever takes that post is on a hiding to nothing, in a bad situation where they are unlikely to be able to produce any sort of decent result, and as a result will likely not even last out the season. He'd be much better off staying at WSW.
Bondy
Guest
Midfielder No1 They NRL should ditch the delayed 4pm game for live content .No 2 They should remove video refereeing almost completely it leads to more confusion . No 3 They can't beat us for derbies the drive bys vs smurfs is the only sports contest that consistently sells out in Sydney nothing beats it club wise. No 5 There should be a NRL game every Sunday arvo in Sydney .. They've got a Q @ A survey " News Ltd " about NRL on their site today Mid go and take it, I did.
Bondy
Guest
Garcia I liked it the new badge/coat of arms, I hope they respect their Dutch heritage for ever ...
Bondy
Guest
I must say Crystal Palace where hopelessly outplayed by Arsenal Sunday morning despite the scoreline, why would Poppa go and face relegation straight in the eye where he can stay in his local comp and win it ? ...
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
They do overlap around march to April.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
What's wrong with the old one???CK will be up in arms about this fundamental issue governing the bread and butter of daily sporting life ;-)
Kyle Stewart
Roar Pro
I've been told the english media isnt even putting popovic's name in the ring, if he does get it alot of other people will have passed up on it.
Kyle Stewart
Roar Pro
When the seasons dont overlap?
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
They should ban it because it looks so ugly......
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
Maybe he is thinking that the NRL will take the big stadiums so HAL can't use them??
Garcia
Guest
In other Aleague news Brisbane has released their new logo http://www.brisbaneroar.com.au/video/brisbane-roar-unveil-new-club-crest/955019 . I wonder if the FFA will ban it due to the new National Club Identity Policy? Since it is clearly a ripoff of the dutch national team and the roar's old dutch heritage. http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/ffa-announces-national-club-identity-policy/159tpdfz6wrja164o95ot6xc9u
Stevo
Roar Rookie
LOL, how do Sydney A-league derbies affect NRL attendance??? Brain fade me thinks :)
Alez Valez
Roar Rookie
He's not even in the top 3 choices by CP Management, he aint going anywhere.
Midfielder
Guest
LOL ... point 3 Buzz Rothfield?s 50 ways to improve the NRL http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/buzz-rothfields-50-ways-to-improve-the-nrl-as-the-countdown-to-the-2014-grand-final-begins/story-fnj45km6-1227023309794 1 Scrap the 4pm Channel Nine replay for live free-to-air games on Sunday afternoons. 2 Set up a video referees bunker to get consistency into their decision making. 3 Schedule blockbuster games to combat soccer?s A-League Sydney derbies. 4 Get rid of Thursday night football except for the week leading into Easter. 5 Ensure there is a Sunday afternoon game in Sydney every weekend.
Realfootball
Guest
Can't see it.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
The fact that Pulis left before the season has started gives a massive no confidence to the Palace Board and chairman. Funny how these rumours get started but Popovic isn't even in the frame or if he is, he is 5th-6th choice at best.
magila cutty
Guest
WSW have already said they won't stand in his way. Should it be offered and it's a long shot he would ne crazy not to accept. Chances in the epl don't come along like buses and he should jump at it. In the event it didn't work out i am certain there would still be opportunities back in the a-league so i can't see a problem. Having said that i doubt there will be an offer but good luck to him, it'd be huge for the a-league and Australian football.
Midfielder
Guest
Huge nay mega opp ... to coach in the EPL ... wonders aloud would WSW let him go..