‘We couldn’t stand in his way’ – Roy Hodgson confirms Shaun Derry’s Crystal Palace exit to join Wolves

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has confirmed that Shaun Derry has left the club to become Wolves’ new assistant manager.

Derry was axed from Patrick Vieira’s first-team coaching staff last season in February. 

But the French World Cup winner was sacked a month later following a 1-0 defeat at Brighton.

Derry never officially left the club and joined Hodgson’s coaching staff ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.

However, Julen Lopetegui left Wolves before the start of the season and was replaced by Gary O’Neil on Wednesday.

Derry has now left Selhurst Park to join O’Neil’s coaching staff. 

Hodgson said: “He was contracted to the club, but he was on gardening leave for a period of time.

“He was on gardening leave when we joined in March. 

“He was being paid by the club but wasn’t doing any work.

“He wanted to work, but there were no vacancies for him.

“The previous manager and management staff hadn’t wanted him. 

“We – myself, Paddy McCarthy, Ray Lewington and Dean Kiely – were happy to welcome him back to work with us. 

“We thought it would be good to have him with us again because we like him as a person – he’s a really good coach and a really good Crystal Palace man.

“It was going very well – we were very happy with him.

“But suddenly, another friend of his – who he has worked with in the past – Gary O’Neil, gets the job at Wolves and asked him to become his assistant manager.

“There is no way we could stand in his way.

“We would have been happy if he said: ‘I can’t accept this opportunity.’

“But when he said: ‘I need to take this opportunity – it’s a big step forward in my career. I can’t turn this down,’ we reluctantly said: ‘We understand and you go with our best wishes.’

“I would have been happier if Gary O’Neil had not come in and tempted him away.”

Hodgson confirmed he has no plans to replace Derry.

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD