Tom is an experienced football journalist at Football FanCast with over five years of experience covering breaking news, opinion features and analysis across English football. His work spans the Premier League, EFL and non-league football, combining news reporting with in-depth features on the biggest stories in the game.  

Throughout his career, Tom has contributed to publications including The Non-League Paper, Crawley Observer, Sussex Express and The Redmen TV, producing news, features and exclusive interviews. He has also covered events including the National League South play-off final, Formula E's London E-Prix and matches involving Crawley Town and Brighton & Hove Albion's Under-21s.
 

At Football FanCast, Tom has interviewed prominent football figures including Ally McCoist, Philippe Senderos and Chris Waddle. His journalism combines a broad understanding of the game with an interest in exploring the issues affecting clubs, players and supporters at every level.

It feels absurd that Crystal Palace lifted the Europa Conference League less than six months ago. They were on top of the world, creating history on top of the history already made under Oliver Glasner. Beneath that high always lied the ultimate comedown, however, as their iconic manager bowed out.

Replacing the best head coach in the club's history was always going to be an impossible task.

Glasner made Palace's transfer policy look like one a manager could cope, if not thrive with. Pierre Sage has since exposed the undeniable truth about that same policy and could be made to pay with his job.

Why the writing is on the wall for Sage at Crystal Palace

For now, the brief is that Sage's job is safe. Palace, according to reports, are trusting the man they picked to become their next Glasner in the summer, even as results fail to arrive.

Alas, the truth is that the writing is on the wall as soon as a club sends that exact same brief. When the rumours start and reporters begin to ask the uncomfortable questions, the end is near and not the beginning of a miraculous turnaround.

The Eagles have gone from European glory to 18th in the Premier League, having won twice in nine games. No matter how those at Selhust Park spin it, those in the dugout will be the first to face the consequences for that run of results.

When all is said and done, Sage may look towards the summer recruitment when searching for where things started to go wrong.

Palace lost Maxence Lacroix and spent one of their biggest fees on Dwight McNeil, who was failing to make his mark at Everton. Everywhere the new manager looked, he saw downgrades - perhaps even in the dugout.

The leading candiates to replace Sage

Since it became clear that the pressure is on Sage, several names have threatened to steal the headlines. Reports have mentioned the likes of Sean Dyche, Thomas Frank and even England assistant Anthony Barry.

The latter is reportedly even emerging as a shock frontrunner after his work with Thomas Tuchel at the 2026 World Cup.

Barry represents a wildcard option, but it remains to be seen whether Palace are willing to take another risk after Sage. Meanwhile, Frank and Dyche are out for redemption after disappointing spells at Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest were cut short.

Neither are exciting options, however. Frank was often bemoaned for his slow and disastrous approach at Spurs, while Dyche has never been known for his free-flowing football.

If Palace are to get back to their European-winning best, then they must welcome another option back to the Premier League.

How Crystal Palace could hire their own Hurzeler to replace Sage

Those at Selhurst Park should be looking for young, hungry managers who can bring fresh ideas to the table. They are European champions and, as such, should act like it. By hiring Frank or Dyche, they would be settling at a time when they should be progressing.

On paper, Sage was the right type of hire. He challenged for the Ligue 1 title against Paris Saint-Germain with Lens for much of the last campaign, only to struggle at Palace. That should not dissuade the Eagles. They must be brave and turn towards someone who should be desperate for Premier League redemption.

That man is Liam Rosenior. Since leaving Chelsea, the 4-2-3-1 manager has thrived at Paris FC, dragging the club to as high as third one year after they finished 11th. He is punching well above his weight, just like Brighton & Hove Albion's Fabian Hurzeler.

When Crystal Palace were blown away by rivals Brighton recently, they should have left the AMEX desperately hoping for their own version of Hurzeler - a young manager with modern ideas who will play his own way, no matter what. That is Rosenior.

He fell on his sword at Chelsea, but has since dragged it out of the ground and crowned himself king in Paris. East London should be the next destination on his quest to conquer management.

It was only in the summer that Steve Parish reportedly shortlisted Rosenior for the Palace job, before picking Sage and watching the Englishman head for France.

Now, he must once again ignore Rosenior's Premier League failure and convince him to leave Paris for Palace, hiring a manager who has already beaten PSG this season in the process.