Former Crystal Palace midfielder makes admission about Roy Hodgson’s return

Darren Ambrose has admitted that Roy Hodgson’s return to Crystal Palace does not “excite” him.

The Croydon-born former England and Liverpool manager was appointed as Patrick Vieira’s replacement until the end of the season.

Hodgson, 75, spent four years with the South Londoners between 2017 to 2021 and kept them comfortably in the Premier League every season.

Ray Lewington, 66, will return as first-team coach and Paddy McCarthy has been promoted to assistant manager.

Former Charlton and Newcastle attacker Ambrose made 124 appearances for the Eagles, scoring 37 times.

Palace are without a Premier League win in 2023 and are three points above the bottom three.

“It isn’t the choice I would have made,” Ambrose told Sky Sports of Hodgson returning.

“If I put my Palace head on, it’s not exciting me. Looking at the reaction and speaking to friends I have who support the club, it’s not filling them with much hope and excitement.

“It sounds a bit harsh with Roy just arriving at the football club. 

“He came in before and saved the club. It was a lot earlier days than it was with 10 games to go. It took him four games to get a goal in his last stint.

“It’s not exciting. However, we have to try and be positive now with Crystal Palace. Three or four wins and Palace will stay up.

“That’s what he will be aiming for. If this was the route Palace were going down, I would have stuck with Paddy McCarthy. But, saying that, Roy Hodgson is a fantastic man and manager. Watford was a disaster, and he knows that.

“He might want to write some wrongs in the last chapter of his career. The sole objective now is to win games.

“They are 12th in the Premier League and need three or four wins to secure their Premier League status. I can see it happening, The supporters have to back the manager.”