JEREMY CROSS COLUMN: Potential relegation from the Premier League in the English premier league, Crystal Palace is already beginning to resemble an afterthought, and the people in control are becoming complacent.

One day Roy Hodgson had the opportunity to walk out of Crystal Palace with his head held high.

Now, though, he discovers it on the cutting board. If Palace chairman Steve Parish keeps sticking his head in the sand, then he should at least.

After taking over for Patrick Vieira in March of the previous year, when Palace was only three points above the relegation zone, Hodgson was in a considerably better spot. After that, he led an incredible comeback that saw Palace finish in eleventh position.

READ MORE: Jesse Lingard is off to South Korea; meet the players you never realized were playing in Asia

READ MORE: To replace Pochettino, Chelsea ‘want to appoint Liverpool target Xabi Alonso immediately’

At this juncture, Hodgson ought to have gracefully retired into the sunset, capping an excellent management career that spanned over fifty years. The task was completed. In a few weeks, he would turn seventy-six, and retiring seemed like the right move, given his reputation.

 

In two distinct tenure, it had also been the fifth time he had managed to keep Palace in the top flight. It’s not like he didn’t realize that, at a Premier League team with no more aspirations than toeing the line, this accomplishment was as good as it was going to get for him.

Nevertheless, Hodgson remained unfazed, deceived by the allure of a fresh contract and the delusion that he could still perform well at the greatest level.

“We have set ourselves the target of a top half finish,” he stated. “Which we believe is eminently achievable with such a fabulous group of players and the most magnificent supporters who get behind the team week in, week out.”

After half a year, those same supporters had stopped endorsing Hodgson. Actually, after a miserable run of results and some equally miserable choices from a guy whose value is beginning to decline like a footballing antique, the majority of them want him gone.

Palace is five points above the relegation zone after winning two of their last eighteen games across all competitions. As Everton was losing the FA Cup to them,