The Crystal Palace manager Steve Coppell is on the verge of being moved upstairs at Selhurst Park. Coppell will be retained at Selhurst Park in an administrative capacity but, according to a source close to the club, a change of manager is "imminent" after a series of poor results which has dropped Palace to fourth from bottom of the Premiership.

The source added that the former Spurs manager Gerry Francis was being lined up to take over, although it is understood that Terry Venables is also in the frame.

Palace's future shape is largely dependent on Mark Goldberg, a 33-year-old millionaire who is trying to raise £30 million to buy out the chairman Ron Noades. Yesterday he said he was on target to meet the February 27th deadline for the deal, but added: "Until I do the deal I don't want to be a big talker".

However, he admitted that he would have to talk with Coppell to decide what role he would play at the club. That talk will take place soon, with Coppell himself recently admitting that his job was on the line.

Goldberg refused to reveal who would take over as manager if Coppell was moved upstairs. "There will be some stories very soon and we are not talking about a long time away," he said. He denied he had met Francis. "I've never spoken to Gerry," he said. "I very much doubt there is any truth in the rumour about him. As for the story about Venables, I don't know where that story came from either. There is no truth behind any discussions at the moment. I might have somebody in mind, but I might not."

Following a series of uninspired performances, compounded by injuries to key players such as Attilio Lombardo, Michele Padovano, Paul Warhurst and Neil Shipperley, Palace have slipped into relegation trouble.