Veteran PL boss hospitalised after training collapse amid rife reports of imminent sacking
Roy Hodgson was in a “stable” condition in hospital, said Crystal Palace in a statement, after he collapsed at a training session on Friday (AEDT).
The club cancelled their under-pressure manager’s pre-match press conference.
Palace confirmed the briefing would not go ahead with a short statement that said: “Unfortunately, today’s press conference will no longer take place as scheduled as Roy Hodgson was taken ill during this morning’s training session.”
A later Palace statement: “Following news that Roy Hodgson was taken ill during today’s training session, we can confirm that he is now stable and is currently undergoing tests in hospital.
“Everybody at the club sends their best wishes to Roy for a speedy recovery.”
Hodgson’s medical episode comes just a day after reports emerged his days as Palace boss were numbered due to an alarming run of just three wins from 19 games.
According to the Daily Mail’s chief football reporter Sami Mokbel, it’s “now a matter of when” in regards to Hodgson’s exit from Selhurst Park.
Other managerial candidates named included Steve Cooper, Julen Lopetegui and Kieran McKenna, but all three appear hesitant on taking over mid-season.
Cooper and Lopetegui are out of work having left Nottingham Forest and Wolves respectively, while McKenna is eyeing promotion with the high-flying Ipswich in the Championship.
It is unclear if Hodgson will remain in his post for Palace’s must-win clash against Everton on Tuesday (AEDT), but the club has deemed it necessary to move on from the former England boss amid increasing tension among supporters.
Hodgson returned to Palace in March last year to save the club after his predecessor, Patrick Vieira, was sacked amid a worrying run of form that had the Eagles sleepwalking to relegation.
The 76-year-old snapped Palace’s 13-match winless streak with a 2-1 victory over Leicester City in his first match back.
Hodgson oversaw five wins and three draws from his 10 games in charge at the back end of last season as he steered Palace to an 11th-place finish and was rewarded with a 12-month extension.
However, Hodgson has struggled to recapture the magic of the 10-game stint last season as Palace lie in 15th on 24 points, five clear of the relegation zone.
Prior to his return last season, Hodgson spent nearly four years as Palace’s manager before stepping down from his post at the end of the 20/21 Premier League season.
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