Pierre Sage sacked by Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace have sacked manager Pierre Sage after the club slumped to bottom of the Premier League table for the first time since December 2017.The Frenchman moved to Selhurst Park on a three-year contract this summer after an impressive year at Lens, where he led the club to a runner-up finish in Ligue 1, won the Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions titles for the first time, and qualified for the Champions League. But he was unable to replicate that success across his 16 games in all competitions at Palace, who have conceded the most goals of any top-flight side this season and claimed just seven points out of a possible 30 during his tenure, and sit two points off safety going into the November international break.A club statement released on Thursday said: “Crystal Palace Football Club can confirm that Pierre Sage has left his role as Manager.“The club would like to place on record its thanks to Pierre and his staff for their efforts during their time in South London, and wish them well for the future.“An update on the process of appointing a new Manager will be provided in due course.”Former Brentford and Tottenham manager Thomas Frank could be considered as Palace now attempt to rescue themselves from a relegation fight, while former Burnley, Everton and Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche is also out of work and would be available. Three members of Sage’s coaching staff, Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa and Sandy Guichard, have also departed. Sage leaves after a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Selhurst Park, which marked Palace’s fourth straight league loss and seventh in the top-flight this season. Palace also have one win, two draws and one defeat from four Europa League games and are through to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, where they play Sunderland next month. The former Lyon boss had replaced perhaps the most successful Crystal Palace manager in modern history in Oliver Glasner, who won the FA Cup and Conference League with the Eagles before moving to Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest at the end of last season. More follows