Crystal Palace sack Pierre Sage with Thomas Frank the frontrunner to replace him

Crystal Palace have sacked Pierre Sage after a wretched start to the Premier League season, with the club sitting rock bottom of the table following Sunday’s 3-1 home defeat to Liverpool — their eighth loss in all competitions this term.

The club confirmed the departure in an official statement, which also announced that three members of Sage’s coaching staff — Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa and Sandy Guichard — had left alongside him. “The club would like to place on record its thanks to Pierre and his staff for their efforts during their time in South London, and wish them well for the future,” the statement read.

Sage becomes the second top-flight manager to lose his job this season, following Michael Carrick’s dismissal from Manchester United earlier on Thursday.

The Frenchman had arrived at Selhurst Park in the summer with considerable momentum, having guided Lens to a French Cup triumph and a second-place finish behind Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. However, his tenure quickly unravelled. Heavy defeats to local rivals Brighton, Newcastle United and Tottenham piled on the pressure, while draws against Hoffenheim and Besiktas in the Europa League compounded a growing sense of crisis. Palace’s sole league victories came against Fulham and Nottingham Forest — the latter managed by former Palace boss Oliver Glasner on his return to Selhurst Park.

Thomas Frank is understood to be the frontrunner to succeed Sage. The Danish coach, who built a strong reputation during his time at Brentford before a brief spell at Spurs ended with his dismissal in February, has been without a club since then.

Palace are also reported to be considering a broader shortlist that includes Frank Lampard, Sean Dyche, Vitor Pereira, Kim Hellberg, Vitor Matos, Tony Popovic, Ole Werner and Jens Berthel Askou.

Meanwhile, Sage may not be out of work for long. Reports from France suggest that Lens — where he made his managerial name — are pushing to re-appoint him following the dismissal of Yannick Cahuzac. Palace say a further update on the managerial appointment process will be provided in due course.