Bright: Lack of faith in Warnock
Crystal Palace ambassador Mark Bright believes there was a “lack of confidence and faith” in Neil Warnock, who was sacked as manager of the club today.
Warnock left his position just four months after taking charge at Selhurst Park, having won just one of his last 12 fixtures.
A 3-1 defeat at home to Southampton on St Stephen's Day saw them slide into the Premier League bottom three, with the supporters audibly turning on Warnock.
And Bright, who scored 92 goals for Palace between 1986 and 1992 and is now an ambassador with the club thinks that could have made a difference.
“Yesterday was the first time I’d ever heard the crowd be as quiet as they’ve been,” he told BBC’s Football Focus programme.
“The manner of that defeat yesterday was really poor and I think the players felt it as well.
“I think there was a lack of confidence and faith in Neil.”
Warnock inherited the same group of players that finished 11th under Tony Pulis and Bright believes they remain capable of avoiding relegation.
“I honestly believe the players we have at the club can keep us up, I really do,” he added.
“They did enough last year to show everybody what they’re capable of doing.
“Somebody can come in and give them some structure, some guidance on the training field and give them a bit more belief, bit more confidence.
“We’ve seen what’s happened with back-to-back wins for a couple of teams at the bottom, they’ve pulled themselves out.”
Clinton Morrison, who scored more than 100 goals across two spells with the club, played under Warnock when the Yorkshireman first took charge of the Eagles in 2007.
While the former Republic of Ireland international admits he had a unique style of management, he does not think he had lost the dressing room.
“He’s different to other people. He’ll try and motivate you but he’s a bit of a ranter and raver when things aren’t going right. He likes people to work hard in his teams,” Morrison said.
“You could see them still trying to play for him. I don’t think any player would go on the pitch not trying to play for their manager.
“Maybe he got it wrong and it’s just not working out which is a shame.”
As for who his replacement, Morrison believes there should only be one choice.
“If I was the Palace chairman, I’d go back and get Tony Pulis. I think he’s the perfect fit for the club,” he added.
“What he did for Crystal Palace was unbelievable. He’s a proven Premiership manager, one of the best, and I’m surprised he hasn’t got a job yet.”
