Yesterday, Crystal Palace announced that club was celebrating the 10th anniversary of Paul Hart’s appointment as Palace manager.
The club appointed Paul Hart to succeed Neil Warnock on March 2, 2010, until the end of the 2009/10 season. The Eagles narrowly missed out on suffering relegation that season after being deducted 10 points for entering administration. They only finished with two points more than 22nd place Sheffield Wednesday.
Hart managed just 14 games at Crystal Palace, managing three wins, six draws and five losses. He averaged 1.07 points per match.
The next season, after Hart had left, the side managed to barely stay afloat yet again, before finishing 16 points above relegation in the 2011/12 season. The year after that, the side finished in a playoff spot, earning promotion to the Premier League, where they finished in 11th place during their first season back in the top flight.
Had Palace been unable to avoid relegation during Hart’s small stay at the club, perhaps the side would have never made it to the Premier League at all? When the side shared the news of Hart’s anniversary, these fans shared similar thoughts. They classify him as a true club legend.
And the rest is history
— Alex Westry (@alex_westry) March 2, 2020
Look how far we’ve come since then, such an understated legend
— chilled perfecto (@chilledperfecto) March 2, 2020
Main reason why we’re in the PL
— WonderfulWilf (@WilfsSZN) March 2, 2020
Underrated. A legend for what he did because he knew exactly how to manage the mindset change from chasing promotion to avoiding relegation and the loss of key players. Forever indebted.
— Brett R (@banjhiki) March 2, 2020
Then the great escape began
— Asael Yangard (@THEDUBPRINCE) March 2, 2020
underrated for the job he did
— Dan Clifford (@DanClifford02) March 2, 2020
Would Crystal Palace be in the Premier League without Paul Hart?
Yes
No
What do we think?
Despite staying at the club for less than a full season, Hart’s influence on Crystal Palace’s present is huge. These fans’ views prove that. They can’t imagine being where they are today without him.