Alan Pardew is on the brink of being sacked by Crystal Palace, and will be replaced by Sam Allardyce if Palace lose to Southampton tomorrow.

Palace have lost six Premier League games in a row, and only goal difference is keeping them out of the relegation zone. The club’s American majority shareholders David Blitzer and Josh Harris, along with chairman Steve Parish, have been agonising all week over Pardew’s future, and whether he is the man to turn the club around.

But senior figures at Selhurst Park have decided in the last few days that unless Pardew can instantly turn their form around, he will have to be replaced as manager. If Palace lose to Claude Puel’s in-form Southampton then that will be the end of Pardew’s two-year tenure at the club.

Palace have identified Sam Allardyce, who resigned as England manager in September, as the man to replace Pardew. Despite his ignominious spell as England boss, Allardyce has enjoyed great success stabilising struggling teams in the Premier League, most recently with Sunderland and West Ham United. With the financial rewards for staying up being stronger than ever, Allardyce’s security is attractive to Palace’s owners.