Keith Wyness drops verdict on Crystal Palace sacking Pierre Sage
Crystal Palace's poor start to the new season should be blamed more on the "structural issues" at the club than new manager Pierre Sage.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Eagles need to "get behind" the French boss and try to move forward as a unit.
The South London outfit have won just one of their opening five Premier League games, and that has already forced Sage's future at Selhurst Park into the spotlight.
However, Wyness is adamant that the former Lens chief is not to blame for Palace's poor start, and feels that the current environment at the club is wrong.
Both Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr have hardly featured after being denied big moves away in the summer, while the club's American owners are still exploring the possibility of selling their shares.
Wyness believes this has created a dangerous mix for Palace, who have been unable to overcome those issues on the pitch so far this term.
Pierre Sage not making 'big mistakes' right now
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Sage is not making "big mistakes" right now, and backs him to turn the team's fortunes around if he is given time.
Instead, the Scottish businessman feels that the 47-year-old has been dealt some difficult cards to work with for his first job in English football.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained that while the "clock is ticking" on Sage, the right move is to back him, rather than sack him.
"I think the clock is ticking in this case. And it's not really all his (Sage's) fault. I think there's just some really big structural issues around the club," he said.
"Sarr, Mateta, et cetera, all those things that have gone on. And the thing is, if they were to make a change in manager, who would want to come into that situation, because things won't change for a new manager coming in.
"I don't think this is necessarily a managerial situation; I think it's more of a structural situation. The ownership situation isn't stable, and there are a lot of rumours swirling around Palace right now, as they do around clubs that have a rocky start.
"It's not so much on Sage. I don't think he's made any necessarily big mistakes, given the cards he's got to work with.
"I don't think a change of manager is right. Because all you'll do is inherit more problems and more turmoil with a new man coming in. So I think the best thing for them right now is to keep their head down, get behind him and move forward."
'I don't trust Steve Parish'
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider on Monday that it would be a "bizarre" decision if Palace sacked Sage, given that they showed so much desire to bring him in.
The ex-recruitment man also believes it would be a decision that would "undermine" the fans, who have had such a positive ride with the club in recent years.
However, Brown made it clear that he has no confidence in the Eagles' chairman Steve Parish, and doesn't "trust him" to make the right call.
Brown suggested that it wouldn't surprise him if Sage did lose his job in the coming weeks, despite the signs pointing towards him needing time.