Saturday 24 December 2016 08:48, UK
Crystal Palace have appointed Sam Allardyce as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal one day after sacking Alan Pardew.
Pardew was dismissed on Thursday with the club languishing in 17th spot in the Premier League having been at the club since January 2015.
Former England boss Allardyce left his home in Bolton on Friday morning as his representatives began negotiations and after four hours of personal conversations with chairman Steve Parish, SSNHQ reported the deal had been agreed.
Later in the evening, his appointment was confirmed and means the 62-year-old will be in the Palace hotseat for their Boxing Day clash at Watford, live on Sky Sports 1.
Allardyce told the club's website: "I hope we can bring some joy, particularly over Christmas and new year, but over the long term, between now and the end of the season.
"The club itself seems to be very ambitious. Certainly the chairman and the owners seem to be taking the club forward in the right direction.
"I like the look of the squad and that's probably the reason that I am here because I feel the club can go forward from here and hopefully I can help it go forward."
Parish added: "We are delighted to be able to make an appointment so quickly and fortunate that someone of Sam's calibre and experience was available."
It means a fairly swift return to management for Allardyce, out of work since leaving his post as England boss by mutual consent at the end of September after 67 days and just one game following a newspaper investigation.
With Palace struggling in the top-flight after one win in 11 games, Parish, who co-owns the club with American investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer, admitted on Thursday that Pardew's "expansive style of football hasn't worked".
He added: "Relegation is so costly and I feel, with no blame attached, we got ourselves in a rut and need a change."
Allardyce will take training on Saturday and oversee his first match in front of the Sky Sports cameras with the visit to Watford on Monday, kick-off 12.30pm.
The 1-0 home defeat by Chelsea last Saturday left the Eagles one place and one point above the drop zone. They have had a miserable 2016, despite making the FA Cup final, winning six out of their 36 Premier League matches and picking up only 26 points.
In Friday's press conference, Keith Millen, who had been in temporary charge, said: "It is amazing how resilient the players can be."
Allardyce has never been relegated as a manager and secured promotion to the Premier League with both Bolton and West Ham.
