Tim Sherwood and Malky Mackay are locked in a battle to be the new manager of Crystal Palace, with an appointment set to be made in the next 48 hours.
Former Tottenham boss Sherwood and Mackay, sacked by Cardiff last December, met Palace chiefs yesterday as the club search for a successor to Tony Pulis, who quit 48 hours before the season started.
Mackay has been the early front‑runner for the post, with Palace’s sporting director Iain Moody pushing for the appointment after they worked successfully together at Cardiff.
However, Palace have noted the work Sherwood did at Spurs where he gave young players, such as Nabil Bentaleb, a chance in the first team.
Co-owner Steve Parish wants to make an appointment by Wednesday.
Defender Joel Ward is convinced Pulis’s legacy will keep the club in the Premier League, regardless of who is appointed the new manager.
Palace almost snatched a point on Saturday at the Emirates, where they frustrated Arsenal for long periods before Aaron Ramsey struck an injury-time winner
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Ward said: “We are still hungry and want to prove that we can stay in the Premier League again. Over the last seven or eight months, we have been working on our identity and we showed that on Saturday.
“Our only focus is what happens on the pitch. We know our jobs and will be disciplined in what we do, whoever comes in.”
