• Premier League

Crystal Palace confirm Holloway departure

Ian Holloway refused to discuss his future after Crystal Palace's defeat to Fulham © Getty Images

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Crystal Palace have confirmed that manager Ian Holloway has left the club by mutual consent following a news conference on Wednesday.

Palace lost 4-1 at home to Fulham on Monday, leaving them with three points from their opening eight Premier League games, with one win and seven defeats. The club are already five points from safety.

Holloway had refused to discuss his future after the match, playing down reports he had been called in for crisis talks with chairman Steve Parish.

However, during a specially arranged press conference on Wednesday, Parish confirmed Holloway's departure but was quick to point out they had not fallen out over the matter.

"Ian's contract at Crystal Palace has come to an end by mutual consent," Parish said. "Ian felt that a new approach might help keep us in the division.

"I've enjoyed every minute of working with Ian. He leaves our club with his head held very high. nI'd like to put the record straight. We've never fallen out. We've worked together brilliantly. We feel we need to move on to progress."

Holloway was sat alongside Parish during the conference, and explained his reasons for leaving the club.

"I have pride in the job we've both done," Holloway said. "It wasn't easy. If Steve's last manager wasn't headhunted I wouldn't have been here.

"We need to shut up shop in this division. At the minute we've got a whole new group there. I have to hold my hand up and say we didn't keep the spirit that got us up. We changed too much too quickly.

"Someone new coming in now with a tad more experience at this level will have 30 games left.

"This club needs an impetus of energy, but I just feel tired to be honest. I'm worn out. All I can do is be as honest as I can and wish everyone at the club well.

"I need a little bit of time to chill out with the family, but I will look out for Palace's scores. I could never work any harder than I have done.

"I'm not saying my new signings aren't good enough. But they need to buy into this football club the same way my other lads did."

Tony Pulis and Neil Warnock are currently favourites to replace Holloway, while former Palace striker Ian Wright is 33/1 to be given the job.

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