Former England manager Sam Allardyce is in the frame for the Crystal Palace job should they sack under-pressure boss Alan Pardew, sources close to the club have told ESPN FC.
Pardew's position at Selhurst Park is in doubt after a poor slump in form which has seen Palace lose their last five games in the Premier League to leave them just one point above the relegation zone.
Palace's bad run has carried on from the second half of last season and their record in 2016 is the worst of any of the 92 professional clubs in English football, despite having spent over £50 million in the summer transfer window.
Palace have picked up just 22 points in 31 Premier League games this year and have gone 17 games without a clean sheet to increase the pressure on Pardew.
Pardew travelled to the United States last week during the international break for talks with Palace shareholder Josh Harris to discuss the side's form, with concerns growing at Selhurst Park that the former Newcastle manager might not be able to turn things around.
Palace face a vital clash with fellow strugglers Swansea on Saturday and a sixth successive defeat for the Eagles could see Pardew lose his job.
Sources have told ESPN FC that Palace officials are drawing up a contingency plan if they decide to part company with Pardew, with Allardyce among the names in the frame.
Allardyce is currently out of work following his controversial departure as England manager in September after just one game in charge of the national team.
Allardyce has admirers at Palace following the successful job he did at Sunderland last season, when he helped the club stay up against the odds.
Former Palace defender Chris Coleman is also a contender for the role, but the Eagles would find it hard to land him after he signed a new deal to continue as Wales boss in May.