Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew enlists helps of England’s Grand Slam-winning boss Eddie Jones in bid to avoid relegation and land FA Cup
Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has tapped into the management blueprint of England’s Grand Slam-winning rugby union head coach Eddie Jones as he bids to secure the first major trophy in the club’s history.
The Eagles have reached the FA Cup final and will face Manchester United at Wembley on Saturday 21 May, although a run of just one win in 18 Premier League matches means Palace are not yet safe from the drop.
Jones, fresh from guiding England to their maiden Six Nations title since 2011, visited Palace’s Beckenham training ground this morning and spoke about eliminating complacency ahead of Pardew’s return to former club Newcastle on Saturday.
“We’re still not mathematically safe in the Premier League, so we still have work to do, which is why I asked Eddie Jones to come in. He had a few words with the team about complacency and about what teams do,” said Pardew.
“He’s been involved in World Cups with other nations. He’s a multicultural personality and he is someone who is engaging. If they can’t take on board his comments then we are in trouble.
“We’ve been quite close since he’s been here, and a lot of the views he has on trying to get more from individual players and the group run parallel with my own views.”
Relegation-threatened Newcastle have won just 10 league matches since Pardew left to take over the Selhurst Park reins in January 2015 following a turbulent period in charge at St James’ Park.
“I loved managing Newcastle. I had some great times there and some difficult ones,” added Pardew.
“It is a club that is a beast when it is going well and equally destructive when it is not. They are going well [under Rafa Benitez] at the moment.”