CRYSTAL Palace appear to be no closer to appointing a new manager this evening - almost a week after the departure of Tony Pulis.
Former Cardiff boss Malky Mackay had been in talks with the club and was widely expected to be named the new Palace manager today (Wednesday).
But the Eagles have now seemingly pulled the plug on the deal, with the sticking point being Palace's desire to retain members of the current backroom staff including caretaker boss Keith Millen.
Millen, who oversaw Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal and was also caretaker for a spell following the departure of Ian Holloway last season, is now increasingly likely to take charge of Saturday's first home game of the season, against West Ham. Paace today confirmed he will give the mandatory pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon.
The former Bristol City boss was born in Croydon and is popular among both Palace fans - some of whom would like to see him get the job permanently - and the club's hierarchy.
But the desire to keep Millen in SE25 seems to be proving a stumbling block to appointing a new manager with another candidate, Tim Sherwood, also keen to bring in his own men, including former England striker Les Ferdinand.
As it stands Sherwood, who left Spurs in the summer after half a season in charge, is again the bookies favourite at 2/1 (BET365) closely followed by another former Tottenham manager Martin Jol - also said to have held talks with Palace - who is priced 5/2.
Another name being linked and backed at the bookies is former West Brom manager Steve Clarke, while Millen has come into as short as 6/1 with some firms.
Steve Parish said at the weekend he'd like to have a new manager in place by today and that the chosen candidate would have "an intimate knowledge" either as a player or manager in the Premier League.
