FORMER Crystal Palace boss Steve Coppell has left his director of football role at Crawley Town tonight.
Coppell leaves the West Sussex club just five days after manager Richie Barker was given the boot.
There had been previous talk of a return to Selhurst Park for Coppell during the Eagles' month-long search for a new manager recently.
And with Tony Pulis not hiding the fact he may look to bring in new backroom staff alongside Keith Millen, could there be a return for the man who was in the Palace hotseat four times previously?
Coppell masterminded Barker's appointment to Crawley in August 2012, but it was thought following the former Bury man's dismissal last Wednesday, he would follow suit.
Town chief executive Michael Dunford has issued a statement this evening, saying: "Steve will always have a special place in our hearts at Crawley Town FC because he was instrumental in assisting Craig Brewster in securing our promotion to League One and has since been a very good advisor to the both the board of directors and the team management.
"Steve is a long term friend of our owners and will always be welcome at Crawley Town FC and we wish him every success for the future."
