Neil Warnock returns to Crystal Palace

Neil Warnock has sensationally returned to Crystal Palace for a second spell in charge, four years after leaving the London club. The Yorkshireman, who had been out of work since leaving Leeds in April 2013, has made a surprise return to the dugout on a two-year deal.
The Next Crystal Palace Manager Market has taken a plethora of twists and turns since Tony Pulis dramatically departed Selhurst Park less than 48 hours before the 2014/15 season, with the likes of Malky Mackay, Tim Sherwood, Neil Lennon, Steve Clarke and caretaker boss Keith Millen all hotly linked with the vacancy.
None more so than Mackay who appeared to be on the verge of replacing Pulis last week, only for the deal to collapse after the Eagles were made aware of a damaging dossier the Scot’s former club Cardiff City sent to the FA, which contained serious alleging misconduct by Mackay and sporting director Iain Moody.
A wounded Sherwood, who had been shunned in favour of Mackay, then opted to pull out of the running, with Lennon then being overlooked. Today (Wednesday) rumours were rife that the decision was a straight shoot-out between Clarke have Warnock, with the latter now coming out on top.
Warnock has previously worked in the top-flight with Notts County, Sheffield United and QPR. The 65-year-old’s record isn’t particularly eye-catching, with County and United both subsequently suffering relegation down to the second-tier, while the R’s sacked him in 2012 with the club were struggling down in 17th.
In his previous three-year spell in charge of Palace Warnock oversaw 116 matches: winning 12, drawing 36 and losing 38. During his time at Selhurst Park the club were struggling financially and were placed into administration in January 2010, with Warnock departing shortly after.
Fast-forward to today and Warnock inherits a side who finished 11th in the Premier League last season. The dramatic events of the last two weeks has inevitably had a massive effect on the teams on-field performances, with the Eagles losing both of their opening top-flight games. However, they bounced back in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday, beating Walsall 3-0 thanks to a first-half Dwight Gayle hat-trick.
Warnock’s first match will be away to Newcastle on Saturday, followed by September clashes with Burnley, Everton and Leicester. Meanwhile the former Leeds boss has been handed funds to spend, but only has five days left to lure in new recruits before the transfer window slams shut on 1pm on Monday September 1.