EPL side Crystal Palace is "expected to make a formal approach" for Newcastle Manager Alan Pardew "early this week" after identifying him as the "preferred target to replace Neil Warnock," according to Taylor & Fifield of the London GUARDIAN. Pardew "declined to attend a single scheduled post-match media interview after Newcastle's 3-2 home win against Everton, so as to avoid the need to discuss the Palace vacancy." Crystal Palace is aware it would "have to meet a hefty buyout clause in Pardew's contract," thought to be up to £6M ($9.3M). Newcastle Owner Mike Ashley would not "countenance compromise over that sum, which could be a stumbling block, but if the compensation was paid it is hard to imagine him standing in Pardew's way" (
GUARDIAN, 12/28). The BBC reported Newcastle assistant John Carver, "who did the post-match conference,"
said, "Alan didn't say why I was doing the press, he just told me to do
it." If Pardew "was to move to south London he would be swapping ninth-place Newcastle for a team lying third bottom in the Premier League" (
BBC, 12/29). THE AGE reported A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers Manager Tony Popovic's chances of becoming a Premier League manager "appear to have slipped," with Pardew "strongly linked to the vacant Crystal Palace job." Former Tottenham Manager Tim Sherwood is rated the "second-best chance
while Western Sydney Wanderers coach Popovic is the third favourite." Popovic was previously linked to the job "before Warnock took over at
the start of the season and his stocks rose after the Wanderers clinched
the Asian Champions League title last month" (
THE AGE, 12/29).
STEPPING IN: In London, Martin Hardy broke that Argentinian Fabricio Coloccini "is in line" to replace Pardew once the move to Crystal Palace is announced. Coloccini joined the club for £10.3m from Deportivo La Coruña back in '08. He signed a new contract in '12, but "a new deal will be negotiated if he succeeds Pardew and becomes player-manager of the club (London INDEPENDENT, 12/29).
STAYING PUT?: In Sydney, Tom Smithies reported Popovic is "almost certain to stay" with Western Sydney after it "became clear" Crystal Palace is not willing to "grant him the autonomy that is his pre-requisite to consider any new job." Although there has been "no official contact between the English club and the Wanderers boss, given Popovic's status as a contracted coach, it has been made clear that the new head coach at Palace will inherit the existing backroom staff," while Chair Steve Parish will continue to be "involved in recruitment policy." Unless that changes it "seems certain Popovic's interest will be zero" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 12/29).
OUT OF THE WAY: In Sydney, Dominic Bossi reported Wanderers "will not stand in the way" of Popovic's potential move should Crystal Palace "submit a formal offer to sign him as their next head coach." Wanderers Chair Paul Lederer said should Popovic get the chance to "become the first Australian to coach in the English Premier League, he would have the Wanderers' blessings to pursue the opportunity, despite having more than 18 months remaining on his deal with Western Sydney." Lederer: "Absolutely. If he was bettering himself and went to the EPL and he got
the top job, I'd be wishing him all the best and good luck to him" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 12/29).
