MX23RW : Wednesday, March 12 11:18:17| >> :120:35711:35711:

Roy Hodgson: 'There is no regime change at Palace'

Speroni is to leave Palace after 15 years while Puncheon has completed six years of service.

Roy Hodgson has dismissed suggestions the departures of veterans Julian Speroni and Jason Puncheon mean Crystal Palace are embarking on a "new era".

In Luka Milivojevic, Mamadou Sakho and Scott Dann the Eagles boss also believes they already possess the figures they need to replace the leadership qualities they are losing.

It was this week confirmed that the popular Speroni will leave the club after 15 years and Puncheon after six, concluding a period in which both have been so influential in establishing Palace in the Premier League.

For the first season since their promotion from the Sky Bet Championship in 2013 Palace have not been threatened by relegation. They also have plans to expand Selhurst Park and to invest in their squad which, amid the exits of Speroni and Puncheon, represents significant change.

Hodgson, however, is adamant they have no desire to change from the approach that has been so crucial to their progress – a mistake other Premier League clubs have been accused of making as their fortunes have declined.

He also suggested that those two could be sacrificed because of the alternatives Palace already have.

"This isn't a question of regime change or a new era dawning," the manager said.

"We're looking next season to keep the nucleus of what we think is a good team and hopefully add to it because we know that staying in the league... it's been a fight and a struggle and we need to make sure we're as well-equipped as can be.

"We've still got quite a few experienced players, quite a few who've been at the club a good number of years; certainly leaders like Luka Milivojevic and Mamadou Sakho. Although they haven't been here 15 years, they've been here long enough to take on that mantle, so I'm not concerned about that.

"Scott Dann's another who's quite prepared to take on those leadership qualities so we're OK, which isn't trying to decry the fact that 21 years of experience and passion for wearing the red and blue of Crystal Palace can't be replaced in a heartbeat, and I don't think we'll try.

"Everyone at the club's got to (retain those values): Steve Parish, Doug Freedman, me, people in the academy. You keep making certain those messages don't get diluted or changed."

Palace conclude the Premier League season at home to Bournemouth, and Hodgson is encouraged that their promising manager Eddie Howe has not appeared under pressure, despite their recent poor results.

"The people at Bournemouth – I'd be very surprised if they didn't understand, 'We're lucky here, we've found ourselves a manager and a coaching staff that has brought us to where we are and done a fantastic job in keeping us there'," said Hodgson.

"I'd be surprised if they were thinking, 'Let's jump ship from these guys because we've lost a couple of games'.

"(The short-termism around modern managers) is something I can't possibly fathom.

"This is the way social media and the media and the fans operate and I should come to terms with it but I don't understand it at all."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Declan Warrington, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '3c7d295e-798b-4f26-83fd-25f45e6fd565');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Hodgson: No regime change at Palace as old guard depart'});

ID:358941: cacheID:358941:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5778:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
A downbeat Charles Leclerc in Baku on April 27, 2019
Read Next:
Leclerc admits reputation 'encouraging'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal281510352242855
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest28156745331251
4Chelsea28147753361749
5Manchester CityMan City28145953381547
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28121064640646
8Aston Villa2912984145-445
9Bournemouth28128847341344
10Fulham2811984138342
11Crystal Palace2810993633339
12Brentford28115124844438
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs281041455411434
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2897123440-634
15Everton2871293135-433
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2896133248-1633
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2865173857-1923
18Ipswich TownIpswich2838172658-3217
19Leicester CityLeicester2845192562-3717
20Southampton2823232068-489


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!