Sage survives for now but Tottenham trip could decide his future

Pierre Sage has been given a stay of execution at Crystal Palace, but a defeat away to Tottenham on Saturday could be enough to end his time in charge, according to Guardian Football.

The Frenchman's position came under serious scrutiny after a 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle at the weekend, a result that left Palace without a win in four matches.

That followed a 5-0 thrashing by Brighton, after which Sage had already been warned that his job was at risk if performances did not improve, Guardian Football reported.

Speaking after the Newcastle defeat, Sage insisted he retained the backing of those around him at Selhurst Park, telling reporters he believes his players and staff are still behind him.

Despite that public show of confidence, Guardian Football says the head coach remains under considerable pressure, with the trip to north London now framed as a potential turning point for his future.

Palace have already begun weighing up alternatives, with Yahoo Sports reporting that former Tottenham and Brentford manager Thomas Frank is under consideration as a possible replacement.

Frank has been out of work since leaving Tottenham in February, and Yahoo Sports cites Football Insider in describing him as a leading candidate, with the Dane said to remain highly regarded by influential figures at the club.

His track record at Brentford, where he led the club into the Premier League and kept them competitive in the top flight despite limited resources, is understood to be a significant part of his appeal.

Palace are said to view his ability to develop players and organise a settled team as attractive qualities, along with the stability his Premier League experience could offer during a difficult spell.

His time at Tottenham is viewed as a complicating factor, however, with Yahoo Sports noting that Palace had already considered Frank before opting to appoint Sage, and that decision-makers are weighing carefully whether he would be the right fit this time around.

Frank is not the only name on the list. Sean Dyche and Rob Edwards have also emerged as potential candidates should Palace decide to make a change, Yahoo Sports reported.

Frank's availability is thought to make any approach relatively uncomplicated, though Palace must first settle on whether they are ready to move on from Sage, with Yahoo Sports suggesting Frank remains keen to return to Premier League management.

For now, Sage remains in position, with the Tottenham fixture on Saturday shaping up as the clearest test yet of whether he will be given further time to stabilise a side that has gone four games without a win.