McLeish interested in Palace job

30 October 2013 17:01

Alex McLeish has declared his interest in becoming the new manager of Crystal Palace.

The odds on Wales manager Chris Coleman taking over at Selhurst Park have shortened dramatically in the last 24 hours following a flurry of bets, but McLeish has thrown his hat in to the ring for the position, which has been vacant since Ian Holloway's departure last Wednesday.

Holloway guided Palace in the Barclays Premier League through the play-offs, but lost the respect of the players and left by mutual consent with the team bottom of the table.

McLeish has top-flight managerial experience with Birmingham and Aston Villa, although he took the Blues down to the second tier on two occasions.

The Scot has been eager to get back in to football since leaving Nottingham Forest in February, and Palace are one of the clubs on his radar.

"There hasn't been any contact yet but I am available as a free agent," McLeish told Sky Sports News.

"Crystal Palace are in a position that's precarious for them but there's still a lot of points to play for.

"I've had those kind of challenges before and I've had some success and some failures, but if you've got a fighting spirit and good players playing to their strengths, then why can't Palace stay up?"

Coleman is yet to speak publicly on the idea of succeeding Holloway.

However, the 43-year-old is yet to commit his future to Wales beyond November, when his contract expires, despite being offered a new deal.

Coleman has strong links with Palace, having been a feted member of the playing staff for four years during the 1990s, but he is not the only candidate being considered.

Martin O'Neill and Tony Pulis are reported to have held talks with Palace, while Neil Warnock's name has also been mentioned.

Palace have confirmed that caretaker manager Keith Millen will be in charge for Saturday's game against West Brom.

Millen was in the dugout for last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal - the Eagles' eighth reverse of a season that has so far yielded just three points.

Source: PA