Crystal Palace: Pierre Sage sack decision explained with Eagles to begin search for new manager

The problems at Palace stretch far beyond Sage’s control, with the club failing to adequately replace key players such as Maxence Lacroix and Marc Guehi, but after two wins from his opening 10 league games, it had become clear a change in personnel was needed.

Though he was well liked by the majority of the players, Sage struggled to get his ideas across, and his fixation with getting Palace to run and press ultimately caused frustration as the Eagles’ defensive issues were exposed time and again.

Palace have conceded the most goals in the Premier League this season, and Standard Sport understands there was a feeling that Sage was willing to die by his ideas.

Former Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is in the frame to replace Pierre Sage at Crystal Palace

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His lack of communication did not go down well with some players, and it was felt that, even in victory, Palace were at times fortunate as their performances lacked control.

Succeeding Oliver Glasner, Palace’s most successful manager, was always going to be a hard task, and increasingly Sage looked a defeated man despite maintaining a personable front with the media.

Palace are now expected to move quickly to name a successor, with former Brentford and Tottenham manager Thomas Frank reportedly the frontrunner for the job.