SASA: PARISH HAD TO PULL THE TRIGGER

CRYSTAL PALACE chairman Steve Parish deserves support and sympathy after ending Patrick Vieira’s reign says Eagles cult hero Sasa Curcic.

- HARRY PRATT

The one-time Palace playmaker and club ambassador, a huge favourite of Palace’s ‘Ultras’ fans, reckons Parish will be in a state of devastated shock over the decision to finally dismiss the French coach just 48 hours before today’s trip to league leaders Arsenal.

Reacting to Vieira’s sacking, the Serbian (right) conceded co-owner Parish had no choice amid a 12-game winless streak that had left the Eagles just three points clear of the drop zone going into the weekend.

Curcic, who tasted relegation with the South Londoners in 1998, said: “It’s mind-blowing what’s happened since the World Cup break. I’m utterly gob-smacked.