Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace poised to appoint former Stoke City manager Tony Pulis for vacant role at Selhurst Park

 

Tony Pulis is considering an improved offer from Crystal Palace to become their new manager and could finally take charge of the Premier League's bottom club later this week.

Palace have returned to the former Stoke City manager and are promising a substantial survival bonus plus funds for the transfer window as their search for Ian Holloway's successor threatens to extend beyond four weeks.

Pulis was one of the first to be interviewed after the departure of Holloway last month but he is understood to have had reservations about the post, with the size of his budget for the January window believed to be a major stumbling block.

The Welshman has never been relegated as a manager and is keen to reshape the squad if he does take the post, to improve the club's hopes of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.

Palace are only prepared to offer an an estimated £500,000 a year to the next manager but are likely to restructure the salary as they are running out of options after experiencing difficulties in their move for Dynamo Moscow's Dan Petrescu.

Steve Parish, the co-chairman, has also interviewed Iain Dowie but the Palace board are concerned about the possible hostile reaction from supporters to the appointment of a manager who walked out on them for bitter rivals Charlton.
Pulis, however, has always figured highly in Palace's thinking and they have held further talks with the 55-year-old today in a bid to have him in charge for Saturday's game against Hull City.
He has admitted he is keen to make his return to the front line. "It just has to be the right job and it's got to be a challenge," he said.
"I've enjoyed the break, and probably needed it after 12 consecutive years managing. I'm getting itchy feet now and want to get back into it. It's a profession that is either in your blood or not."