Crystal Palace would be ‘fine’ if Premier League reverted to five subs despite rule favouring top clubs – insists Roy Hodgson

BY SAM SMITH

Roy Hodgson has insisted that Crystal Palace would be ‘fine’ if the Premier League reverted to allowing clubs to make five substitutions during matches.

The Eagles boss says that the club have twice voted in favour of being able to make three changes, instead of five, because it would be advantageous to the South Londoners.

Managers of clubs playing in the Champions League are campaigning to return to the five substitutions that were allowed at the end of last season. Top-six sides have suffered a string of long-term injuries this term as a result of a congested fixture list.

Hodgson insists that Palace would cope if the rules were changed again, despite them favouring the bigger clubs.

“At the time, when we were asked, we didn’t think it was an advantage for a club like ours to have five subs. But, of course, it is a massive advantage for the clubs at the top of the league,” Hodgson said.

“Because we don’t regard ourselves as a club at the top of the league, we voted for something that would be better and more advantageous for us and that isn’t advantageous for the top six.

“I don’t understand why I am talking about five subs. It has been voted upon, been voted upon twice. [Having] three subs was decided, it’s been like that since the start of the season.

“And I will not be one who tries to back up any campaign you might have to try to get five subs back on the board again, but if five subs does come back on board again and if that is what the Premier League decides, then we will be fine.”