Frank Lampard is back in the frame for the Crystal Palace job.
The former Chelsea boss is once again a contender after the south London club pulled the plug on Nuno Espirito Santo on Tuesday night.
Santo, who parted company with Wolves last month, had had productive talks with Palace over the last 10 days.
But he is understood to have made a fresh set of demands on Tuesday night amid suggestions managerless Everton had made a late bid for his services.
That led Palace to pull the plug.
Swansea boss Steve Cooper and Burnley ’s Sean Dyche are among the other candidates for the role.
But the Eagles remain big admirers of Lampard who held talks with them ahead of Nuno, only for the conversations with the Portuguese to progress further.
Lampard remains a free agent after being sacked by Chelsea in January. The club and its fans, however, recognise his role in blooding young players such as Mason Mount and Reece James who have gone on to become stars for the club and country.
Also the work that Lampard did in leading the club into last year’s top four - a precursor to their triumph in this season’s Champions League.
One man who believes Lampard would make a good appointment for Palace is former Liverpool star John Barnes.
Speaking to BettingOdds last week, he said: "Frank did a good job with Chelsea. Of course in the second year, what happened, happened.
"They weren't in a disastrous position I didn't think. I didn't think Frank did a bad job, I think he could have been given time..
" Crystal Palace would be a good job for him. It's a Premier League club, good owners, good chairman, supportive, good players with what he has.
"Expectations won't grow to be 'top four', but if Palace get mid-table for him to rehabilitate his career, a top six club isn't going to come for him now, so I think it'll be a good move for him.
"They have the type of football he wants to play, so I think it'll be a good move, definitely."
