Palace wait on Iraola with Lampard among plan Bs

Crystal Palace are accelerating planning for next season after a Conference League win in Leipzig. The club’s priority is appointing a new head coach to replace Oliver Glasner, who has no intention of reversing his decision. Palace have made Andoni Iraola a proposal and are awaiting his answer, with assurances that he will have significant influence over recruitment. The club wants a response by the end of the weekend. Iraola’s recent success with Bournemouth, including Europa League qualification, supports Palace’s belief that he can continue building their project. If Iraola declines, Palace will move to plan B, with Frank Lampard among the alternatives, though releasing him from Coventry could be difficult.

"The first task at hand is to appoint a new head coach. As BBC Sport revealed earlier this month, Iraola is the man Palace want to replace the outgoing Oliver Glasner, who insisted after the triumph in Germany that he has no plans to reverse his decision. They have made the Spaniard a proposal and are awaiting his answer, within that are assurances that he will be permitted significant influence over the recruitment operation. It is understood Palace want an answer by the end of the weekend."

"The move is ambitious. Iraola has emerged as one of the brightest managers in European football; Bournemouth's qualification for next season's Europa League illustrative of his impressive body of work. "We have got a taste for it now, we want to keep it going," said owner Steve Parish following the win over Rayo Vallecano. "We have gone up a level and we have got to try and stay there. We will have a week to celebrate and then work hard in the summer.""

"Palace believe they have done all they can to convince Iraola that they can provide the platform for him to continue building his reputation. All that is left is Iraola's approval. If the 43-year-old declines then Palace will move on to plan B. Among the alternatives is understood to be Frank Lampard, who has key admirers in the Palace boardroom. Releasing Lampard from his contract with Coventry provides an obvious stumbling block should Palace pivot to the former Chelsea midfielder."

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