The Western Sydney Wanderers chairman, Paul Lederer, will not stand in Tony Popovic’s way if he wants to replace Neil Warnock as Crystal Palace manager.

The 41-year-old Popovic is one of the favourites for the vacant position at Selhurst Park, with another former Crystal Palace player, Alan Pardew, heading the betting.

Pardew fuelled speculation by avoiding his post-match media duties after Newcastle’s win over Everton on Sunday, but he has 5½ years left on his deal at St James’ Park.

There would be nothing stopping Popovic if Palace were to move for their former defender, however. “Absolutely. If he was bettering himself and went to the EPL and he got the top job, I’d be wishing him all the best and good luck to him,” Lederer said in the Sydney Morning Herald.

The newspaper reported that Palace had contacted Popovic about the job – although nothing has been confirmed by any party – and Lederer is awaiting talks with his manager. “I’m absolutely sure we’ll be discussing it,” he said. “It could be as early as tomorrow or the day after, we’ll certainly be discussing it.”

Popovic played for Palace between 2001‑06 and also served as an assistant to the former manager Dougie Freedman in 2012. Since then he has been in charge of Sydney, guiding them to the A-League title and more impressively the AFC Champions League crown.

The latest development came after Pardew emerged as a surprise frontrunner. There has been no comment from him, Newcastle or Palace about the link, and when asked if there was a sinister reason as to why his manager had skipped his media commitment, the assistant, John Carver, was none the wiser.

“He [Pardew] just said: ‘Will you go and do the press for me?’ That was it. I was actually eating a pie at the time,” Carver said. “He is fine, he’s delighted. It’s a fantastic result for us.”

Pardew and his staff were handed eight-year deals in 2012 by the owner Mike Ashley, who has stood by him through times of mass dissent.

That alone makes him an expensive candidate to replace the sacked Warnock, unlike the caretaker manager Keith Millen, who is already on the books at Selhurst Park.

He returned to temporary charge, as he has done twice before, against QPR on Sunday, getting a 0-0 draw at Loftus Road and then stating his own case for the job.

“I’m ready for it,” the 48-year-old said. “I think the players respect me. I’ve done it enough times, I’ve managed before and I enjoy working for the club. The chairman may feel he needs more experience or wants to see what names are available because it’s a vital time now.”

Much like when Ian Holloway left last season and when Tony Pulis walked out on the eve of this campaign, the co-chairman Steve Parish has admitted to having no one lined up for the job. “I don’t know how long I’ll be in charge for,” Millen added. “I have not been told I’ve got a chance and I haven’t spoken to the chairman about myself.”