Roy Hodgson press conference cancelled as Crystal Palace close in on Oliver Glasner

The 76-year-old is unlikely to be in the dugout for Monday night’s game (Pictures: Getty)

Roy Hodgson’s pre-match press conference was cancelled at the last minute on Thursday, with the Crystal Palace manager ‘taken ill’ amid reports he is about to be sacked.

The 76-year-old, who arrived at the club’s training ground as per usual this morning, was due to face the media at 1.30pm GMT but just half-an-hour before the scheduled start time the press conference was cancelled.

A brief statement from the club read: ‘Unfortunately, today’s press conference will no longer take place as scheduled as Roy Hodgson was taken ill during this morning’s training session.’

The news comes amid growing suggestions that Hodgson will not be in the dugout for Monday night’s Premier League game against Everton, with former Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner set to replace him imminently.

Had he been well enough to attend the press conference, Hodgson would have been put in a very awkward position given the intense speculation surrounding his future.

Glasner is thought to have agreed a deal to take over at Selhurst Park after advanced talks on Thursday and confirmation could come before the end of the day.

Palace chairman Steve Parish felt a change of management was required after a run of just four wins in 18 Premier League games – with that run dragging them into the relegation battle.

Glasner has been out of work since leaving Frankfurt last summer (Picture: Getty)

Glasner has been out of work since leaving Eintracht Frankfurt at the end of last season, having finished seventh in the Bundesliga.

He enjoyed a historic campaign the year before, lifting the Europa League title after an astonishing knockout run that saw them beat Real Betis, Barcelona and West Ham before overcoming Rangers on penalty in the final in Seville.

Glasner, who plays front-foot, attacking football, is viewed as a long-term appointment rather than someone simply to get them out of trouble this season.

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The Austrian coach is believed to have shaken hands on a contract worth around £4.5million a season and is set to bring former Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz with him as part of his coaching staff.

Hodgson, meanwhile, was brought back to Palace last March to replace Patrick Vieira following a long winless run and managed to arrest their slide and guarantee their safety with relative comfort.

Injuries have significantly hampered Palace this season and they are now just five points ahead of 18th-placed Everton but have a worse goal difference, while there have been long-running complaints over the defensive, reactive style of play.

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