Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson still dodging talk over his long-term future

Roy Hodgson has again indicated the time is not right to discuss his future despite Crystal Palace mathematically securing their Premier League status for next season.

The hugely experienced former England boss is due to be out of contract at the end of the season.

And it seems highly likely that Hodgson will step down from his role. Frank Lampard, Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Valerien Ismael have all been linked with succeeding him at Selhurst Park.

But the ex-Fulham and West Brom chief one again batted away talk about his future – and the chunk of his squad due to be out of contract – ahead of tomorrow’s match at Southampton.

“I think that’s been going on in the background all the time anyway,” said Hodgson. “It is not like that at a football club that you wait for a moment in time and suddenly you make big decisions. As far as I’m concerned the next games coming up are the most important things, certainly as far as my future and what I intend to do.

“And for the players as well. It is important we keep working towards those games because we don’t want this season to fizzle out. We don’t want bad performances and for anybody to be able to point the finger and say ‘the performances were provoked’ because we have done anything to provoke it.

“I don’t think any information I impart will be world-shattering anyway. And secondly I want to finish this season well. I don’t want to do anything that will affect our chances of playing well and doing well in those final games.

“Let’s get those games done and then there is plenty of time to give answers to any particular questions I will get. I’m not prepared to do it at this moment in time.”