A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers Manager Tony Popovic is "among the early favourites" to replace sacked EPL side Crystal Palace Manager Neil Warnock, according to THE AGE. Warnock became the "first EPL manager to lose his job this season when he was axed by Palace on Saturday." The Palace board will be "keen to make a swift appointment given the transfer window is days away from reopening." Former Tottenham Manager Tim Sherwood and Popovic "are already standout candidates to replace Warnock," with Popovic having last month led Wanderers to the Asian Champions League title (THE AGE, 12/28). In Sydney, Tom Smithies reported Popovic will "only entertain another approach from Crystal Palace if he is offered complete control at the struggling EPL club," having just turned down a "huge offer from China for that very reason." It is "clear that any approach from Palace would have to include Popovic being given the right to appoint his entire backroom staff and control transfer targets after similar stipulations were laid down to Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R&F last month" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 12/28).
