Former Crystal Palace boss wants Frank Lampard to replace Roy Hodgson in SE25

Former Crystal Palace manager Alan Smith believes Frank Lampard should be Roy Hodgson’s successor in SE25.

The Eagles confirmed on Tuesday that Hodgson, 73, would be stepping down after Sunday’s trip to Liverpool, which is the final Premier League match of the season.

Lampard qualified for the Champions League in his first season in charge of Chelsea – under the restriction of a transfer ban – but was sacked in December as his spell in charge lasted just 18 months.

Swansea’s Steve Cooper and Barnsley’s Valerien Ismael – two young Championship bosses – are under consideration by the Palace hierarchy.

Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Chris Wilder are more experienced options.

“Lampard is my favourite for the job,” said Smith, who led Palace to the old Division Two title in 1994. “Frank would bring a freshness and a youthful exuberance to the club.

“What Frank will have learnt from his experience at Chelsea will have been very good for him.”

One factor which Smith believes could help Lampard is that he “showed faith” in Chelsea’s academy, bringing through the likes of Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount, Reece James and Tammy Abraham.

Palace have their own flourishing academy with impressive campaigns for the U23s and U18s coinciding with the £20million investment into the new academy training complex.

Despite Lampard averaging 1.67 points per game – the worst of any Chelsea manager in their Premier League history – Smith added: “The step from Derby straight to Chelsea could have been one too far for Frank, but what he will have picked up from that experience will have helped him. He has a point to prove, he is young, and he suits the image of Palace.”

Smith managed the South Londoners on two separate occasions and was Steve Coppell’s assistant when they reached the FA Cup final and finished third in the First Division.

He has praised Hodgson for the job he did with the Eagles.

“There has been a lot of uncertainty, which hasn’t helped some of the results over the season, but the overriding factor is that Roy Hodgson has done a brilliant job at Crystal Palace,” said Smith.

“Roy has brought stability to Palace. He has avoided relegation four times in a row, and he is one of these guys who just quietly gets on with the job. It’s a difficult situation at the club with so many players out of contract at the end of the season, and Roy has handled himself really well.”

When asked how difficult it is to manage a side without regular investment in the team – something Hodgson has had to battle with during his time as Palace manager – Smith said: “It should never be underestimated – it’s really difficult.

“Roy has never complained. I have always thought he was an under-rated coach. I am pleased that after his one blip with England, he will be remembered for the job he has accomplished with Palace.”

FOUR CONTENDERS

STEVE COOPER
Having guided Swansea to back-to-back play-off runs, his stock continues to rise. Cooper has worked wonders with the Swans, developing an exciting brand of football with a young squad and on a limited budget. But would the step up to the Premier League prove a difficult one for the 41-year-old?

FRANK LAMPARD
Leading Derby to the Championship play-off final in 2019. Despite being sacked after 18 months at Chelsea he qualified for the Champions League during a transfer ban. He utilised Chelsea’s academy, which would match the ethos that the Eagles’ hierarchy is trying to implement.

VALERIEN ISMAEL
The defender-turned-manager, also Crystal Palace’s record signing when he signed from Strasbourg in 1998, has lit up the Championship with Barnsley – taking the Tykes from relegation candidates to promotion hopefuls. Although his style of football has won many plaudits, Palace may not have the personnel to cope with the high-intensity which he demands of his side. In addition, Ismael lacks any Premier League experience.

SEAN DYCHE
Appears the perfect candidate for the job if the club chooses to go down the route of bringing in a manager who has an abundance of Premier League experience. Dyche has worked wonders with Burnley, securing two promotions and keeping the club in the top-flight on a limited budget. What may deter Palace chairman Steve Parish would be the former Millwall defender’s style of play, with the South Londoners looking to move away from a defensive 4-4-2 approach.