Crystal Palace manager Frank de Boer in serious danger of losing job if side lose away to Burnley this weekend

• e-mail

Frank de Boer will almost certainly be sacked by Crystal Palace if they lose at Burnley on Sunday.

The south London club even contemplated axing the Dutchman during the international break after losing their first three Premier League games without scoring.

The former Barcelona defender has been given one more game to persuade the club they were right to appoint him this summer but whatever the outcome at Turf Moor on Sunday, the relationship between manager and club appears to be at breaking point, with Palace already exploring their options. 

Crystal Palace manager Frank de Boer holds his head in his hand on the bench

De Boer arrived at Palace with a promise to change the way his team plays football

One possibility is to tempt Sam Allardyce to return after the former England manager successfully guided them clear of relegation last season, even though he has already distanced himself from resuming his career at Selhurst Park.

In a bid to turn Palace’s fortunes around and potentially save his job, De Boer is set to abandon the three-man defence he has used unsuccessfully so far this season. 

The 47-year-old is said to be giving serious consideration to bringing in a 4-3-3 system for the clash with Burnley, a formation he used when in charge at Dutch club Ajax. 

Palace have conceded six goals in the league already this season and De Boer feels drastic action is required.

In a sign of the pressure De Boer is under his weekly press conference, which had been set for Thursday, has been moved back to Friday so the Dutchman can trial a new training schedule before facing the media ahead of Sunday’s game.

De Boer is set to abandon the three-man defence he has used unsuccessfully so far this term

De Boer has endured a difficult start to life as manager of Palace and time could be running out