Crystal Palace sack Pierre Sage after just five months as Thomas Frank emerges as leading candidate

Crystal Palace have sacked head coach Pierre Sage after a disappointing start to the season left the club bottom of the Premier League.

The Frenchman was appointed in June on a three-year contract, replacing Oliver Glasner, but lasted just 16 matches in charge at Selhurst Park.

Sage managed only two victories in 10 Premier League games, with Palace collecting seven points and conceding 24 goals – the highest total in the division.

His final match was Sunday's 3-1 home defeat against Liverpool, which extended the Eagles' losing run in the league to four matches.

Thomas Frank has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Sage. The former Brentford manager has been out of work since leaving Tottenham in February and is understood to be open to taking charge at Selhurst Park.

Frank previously enjoyed a successful seven-year spell at Brentford, guiding the club into the Premier League and establishing them in the top flight.

Palace have also considered several other candidates, but Frank is currently at the front of the queue.

Sage leaves after a difficult spell in which Palace struggled to reproduce the form of the team that enjoyed a historic period under Glasner.