The football world was stunned yesterday when Sam Allardyce quit as manager of Crystal Palace.

The former England manager performed a rescue mission at Selhurst Park, coming in at the end of December, with the Eagles in a perilous situation, and saving them from relegation to the Championship.

But after securing survival, Allardyce has decided that enough is enough, calling short a two-and-a-half-year contract at the club.

Now the search is on for Palace's sixth manager in six seasons. One, maybe surprising name in the frame, has been AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley.

Ardley has been in the Wimbledon hotseat since 2012, taking the club from League Two to League One in that time.

He has no Premier League experience, however, and former Palace owner Simon Jordan could not believe links with the Dons boss.

Speaking to Talksport, Jordan said: "One of the names I've heard is Neal Ardley, which is ludicrous.

"Palace are an established Premier League club now and they need someone with Premier League experience."