Palace sack Sage after 16 games with Frank in advanced talks

Crystal Palace have sacked manager Pierre Sage after five months and 16 games, with the club bottom of the Premier League. They are in advanced talks with former Brentford and Tottenham manager Thomas Frank, whom they see as a leading candidate to steer the team away from relegation trouble.

Palace have won two of their first 10 league matches and conceded 24 goals, the most in the division; they also sit 21st in the 36-team Europa League table. Sage won five games in all competitions, and three members of his coaching staff have also left. Injuries and the absence of forwards Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr added to the challenges; Palace next play Coventry on 21 November.