ROY HODGSON has confirmed he will QUIT Crystal Palace at the end of the season – with ex-Chelsea boss Frank Lampard the favourite to replace him.
The ex-England manager, 73, took over at the Eagles – his boyhood club – in 2017, since taking charge of 160 games.
But Hodgson has now revealed he will step down following the final game of the season at another of his former clubs – Liverpool – at Anfield.
His final game at Selhurst Park will be Wednesday night’s game against Arsenal.
Lampard is currently the bookies’ favourite to replace Hodgson at Palace with the former Chelsea midfielder out of work since being sacked by the Blues in January.
On his decision, Hodgson explained: “After more than 45 years of coaching I have decided that the time is right for me to step away from the rigours of top-flight Premier League football.
“Our final two matches will be my last ones as manager of Crystal Palace.
“It’s been a particularly rewarding period of my football life and career to have been able to spend these last four seasons with Palace.
“I feel now that at the end of another successful season, in which we have secured our Premier League status, the moment is right for me to step down from my responsibilities of being a full-time manager.
“I have had so much support from my wife and family throughout my career and I have been contemplating this decision for some time.
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“Now I believe the time is right to consider them and to see what the future holds for me.”
Reflecting on his time at Selhurst Park, Hodgson continued: “I have really enjoyed my time at Palace.
“I have been privileged to work with an outstanding group of professional and dedicated players, most of whom have been with me throughout the four years.
“A manager is only as good as the players who perform on the pitch.
“I have been fortunate that those in my charge have certainly given me that and I thank them for it.
“I am sure I speak for all the players, my coaching staff and backroom team, when I say I am proud of the work we have done together to retain our Premier League status during this time.”
Hodgson finished off by thanking the board for their support during his reign.
He concluded: “I would also like to thank our chairman Steve Parish, his partners David Blitzer and Josh Harris and sporting director Dougie Freedman for all their support over the years.
“They gave me an opportunity to return to my hometown club and I have always felt we were singing from the same hymn sheet in trying to achieve our joint goals.
“I can only wish them all the very best of luck for a successful future and I am convinced that the club will go from strength to strength.”
Chairman Parish said: “It has been an absolute privilege and pleasure to work alongside Roy, who is both a magnificent human and an outstanding football manager.
“I know how much it has meant to Roy managing the club he supported as a child, adding to his distinguished and unparalleled career in football management.
“His record with us simply cannot be overstated, he is the only Palace manager to secure four years in the Premier League and he has helped give us stability in the most turbulent of times.
“We will be forever grateful for his immense contribution and I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to show our appreciation at Selhurst Park after the Arsenal match, alongside 6,500 supporters.
“Roy will leave us after our final Premier League match of the season with our enormous thanks for his incredible contribution to our club, and with our very best wishes for the future.”
Ex-Stamford Bridge chief Lampard, 42, is at the top of Palace’s wish-list.
According to Fabrizio Romano, talks between the South Londoners and Lampard’s agent are ‘progressing’.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
