‘Desperately smart’ – Former Crystal Palace chief delivers verdict on Roy Hodgson’s return

Simon Jordan believes it is a ‘desperately smart’ decision by Crystal Palace to reappoint Roy Hodgson for the rest of the season.

The 75-year-old was announced as Patrick Vieira’s replacement on Tuesday morning and will take charge of the Eagles for the rest of the 2022-23 Premier League campaign.

Palace are 12th in the table but have won just one of their last 17 games in all competitions and are three points above the relegation zone.

Hodgson spent four years at Selhurst Park between 2017 and 2021, keeping the South Londoners in the top flight every season on a limited budget.

Paddy McCarthy has been promoted to join Hodgson’s backroom staff as his assistant, and Ray Lewington has been named first-team coach. Dean Kiely will remain as goalkeeping coach.

Speaking on his talkSPORT show, former Palace chairman Jordan said: “The players will look upon it as the Patrick Vieira situation had run its course. The coaching staff, from what I understand, weren’t the greatest and the players were not responding to them.

“They will respond to Roy Hodgson because most people do. He will get a tune out of them. Enough of a tune to get them out of the current situation they’re in.

“I would be surprised if Roy Hodgson doesn’t do what is required to get my mate Parish out of the proverbial.

“Vieira, for whatever reason, had lost the attention of the players. They are capable of scoring goals. 

“Hodgson will be a change of voice and direction. The gossip about Palace was that the backroom staff were nowhere near it – the players were having none of it. 

“It’s not a win. You didn’t get rid of this fella two years ago because you believed he run his race, to get full circle to go back to him because you’re desperate shtook.

“You got yourself where you’re devoid of ideas and don’t know what to do. It’s a desperately smart move.

“This is not about the long term – this is about the here and now. Hodgson will do the job.

“It’s a call to action for a needs-must situation. You have got 10 games to go, and you need to get nine or 10 points out of these games. He [Roy] is the most recent person who knows the club, a proportion of these players and will be able to get a tune out of them.”