Crystal Palace line up Paddy McCarthy as Roy Hodgson’s long-term replacement

Crystal Palace will likely ask Roy Hodgson to stay beyond this summer and train up assistant manager Paddy McCarthy, reports the Guardian.

The Eagles appointed the 75-year-old in March until the end of the season after parting ways with Patrick Vieira.

McCarthy was initially put in an interim charge and he oversaw the game against Arsenal.

However, Palace swiftly brought Hodgson back and the veteran has since guided them to safety.

The former England manager left the Selhurst Park club after the 2020-21 season and immediately retired.

He briefly returned to management last season to take charge of Watford, and Palace want to hold on to him for one more season.

They want their former under-21 coach to succeed him and are hoping a full season of learning the ropes under Hodgson will come in handy.

The former Eagles defender was close to being handed the role until the end of the season before the club opted to bring back Hodgson.

McCarthy started his coaching career with the club’s under-18s after retiring in 2016 and has rejected offers of more senior roles from other clubs.

He has continued to work closely with Hodgson and his long-term assistant Ray Lewington.

While Palace are hoping McCarthy will take over from the manager in 2024, they have contingency plans in place.

If a deal to extend Hodgson’s stay falls through, the London club will look to snap up Lille’s Paulo Fonseca.

Palace have won five of the eight games Hodgson has overseen since his return.

Winning their final two fixtures against Fulham and Nottingham Forest will see them match their best Premier League points tally (49).