Crystal Palace are yet to confirm the arrival of Thomas Frank, but as reported yesterday, it is expected that the deal will be confirmed officially soon. Delays were being caused as Palace negotiated contracts with Frank’s backroom staff, but he was always the clear front runner. 

It wasn’t just Frank in the running though, and on Sunday morning, it was revealed by Alan Nixon that the club had decided against pursuing Sean Dyche, who had been heavily linked with the job whilst he hasn’t been in work since his sacking from Nottingham Forest. 

But what’s the latest on Frank, and why was Sean Dyche dismissed as an option by the Palace hierarchy. 

There are still ongoing negotiations between Frank and Palace, with discussions over potential bonuses continuing, as well as talks between Palace and the backroom entourage continuing. 

Whilst it’s understandable that talks would take some time, especially given the salary that Frank was on at Spurs and the fact he’s still being paid that money slowly, Palace are taking their sweet time with this appointment. 

Players returned to training on Friday, and with less than a week until a huge Premier League visit to Coventry, the pressure is now on to appoint Frank, get him on the training ground and familiar with the players at his disposal. 

If Palace are unable to agree on those final things, Vitor Pereira has been touted as a potential option, but Frank is still expected to become the new Palace boss. 

In Nixon’s report, it’s suggested that Dyche was ruled out as an option as he had been watching Palace ahead of Sage’s sacking and decided the club needed a complete overhaul, with a huge spending spree needed in the January window. 

Frank is said to be happier with the current playing options, and would want to focus more tactically on what can be improved, whilst also acknowledging that a handful of signings would be needed. 

The Palace hierarchy maintain the stance they did with Sage; that the squad is more than good enough and should be nowhere near the bottom of the table, which is a fair point if everyone is fit and has avoided suspension. 

If Palace continue to struggle for injuries as they have been, with key players effectively missing the entire season until now, then those higher ups will simply have to accept the fact that they don’t have the squad they think they might. 

There is also a case to say that selecting Dyche would have been committing to a long-term project that would require a full overhaul of the playing staff, which would come at a great cost, something that the Palace board are, unsurprisingly, keen to avoid.