Crystal Palace have sacked manager Pierre Sage after five months in charge, with the club bottom of the Premier League.

The club confirmed on Thursday that Sage had left his role, along with three members of his coaching staff, Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa and Sandy Guichard.

“Crystal Palace Football Club can confirm that Pierre Sage has left his role as manager,” the club said in a statement, adding that it would provide an update on the process of appointing a new manager in due course.

Five months that unravelled

Sage arrived in south London in June on a three-year contract, succeeding Oliver Glasner, and his appointment was meant to open a fresh chapter at Selhurst Park. Instead, Palace won only five of his 16 games in charge.

In the league, the picture was worse: two wins from their opening 10 matches, seven points, and last place in the table. Sunday's 3-1 home defeat by Liverpool was their fourth league defeat in a row and proved the final straw.

The club, who won the FA Cup in 2025, have also struggled to balance domestic and European football after selling more of their key players in the summer, and the poor start left the board with little room to wait.

Frank in advanced talks

Former Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has emerged as the leading candidate to take over, with reports indicating that discussions over his appointment have reached an advanced stage. The club has not officially confirmed any successor.

The timing of the change is deliberate. Palace do not play again until 21 November, when they visit Coventry City, so a new manager would have the international break to work with the squad before the next league match.

Sage's departure, alongside the sacking of Manchester United's Michael Carrick on the same day, makes him one of the first two Premier League managers to lose their job this season.

What happens next

Palace will now move quickly to identify a replacement who can steer the club away from the bottom three. Frank, who has managed two other London clubs, is the clear frontrunner, and reports say Palace are aiming to use the international break to complete the change.

For Sage, the exit brings an early end to a short tenure. French reports say his former club Lens may look to bring him back after his departure from Selhurst Park, although nothing has been confirmed.