I wish Roy hadn’t come back again

CRYSTAL PALACE have a better chance of staying up under Roy Hodgson than they did Patrick Vieira, but I still can’t help feeling nervous for my former manager.

When I heard he was returning to football at the age of 75, my first reaction was I wish he hadn’t. I care about him too much and have too much respect to wish a second consecutive relegation, having failed to save Watford last season.

Palace lost their way under Vieira, the team playing without zip or belief towards the end, but I think Roy will keep them up, although his first game at home to Leicester on Saturday is a real six-pointer.

I love the way Roy goes about his work and understand Palace was hard to turn down, but I do think: ‘Why put yourself through it?’ I don’t want his legacy tarnished.

Six of the nine teams in the relegation battle have changed managers. It has worked so far for Everton and Sean Dyche and Leeds with Javi Gracia, but ultimately I think the clubs who have stuck with their bosses will be rewarded.

West Ham and Leicester will be fine based on their managers — David Moyes and Brendan Rodgers — and the quality in their squads.

Nottingham Forest are the other club who have been loyal to Steve Cooper. It was the right thing to do because without him, they wouldn’t be in the Premier League anyway.

I also think they will survive but it’s in the balance. They face Wolves and Leeds after the international break — we’ll know more after that.