Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic said reports he is in contention to be Crystal Palace's new manager are news to him.
The British rumour mill has thrown Popovic's hat into the ring as a candidate to take over the reins at the English Premier League club after Ian Holloway was sacked on Wednesday.
Crystal Palace returned to the EPL this season only to sink straight to second bottom on the table after recording a dismal seven defeats from eight games, consoled only by a 3-1 home win to last-placed Sunderland.
Popovic, who played for Palace from 2001 to 2006, was assistant manager to Dougie Freedman for the 2011-2012 season before returning to Australia to coach A-League debutant the Wanderers to the Premiers Plate in their inaugural campagin.
Although former Stoke manager Tony Pulis is by all accounts the top contender for the role, Popovic and West Bromwich manager Steve Clarke have also been named as potentials.
"I don't know about being in the market but they're a great club and a club that's close to me, and I want them to do well in the Premiership.
"Rumours are big in football, and I'm sure they've got a huge list of candidates that would love that job."
It makes for a big couple of weeks for the 40 year-old, who was also in contention for the Australia coaching job before it was handed to Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou on Wednesday.
Further at the front of his mind right now though is Saturday's highly anticipated Sydney derby, for which he says the Wanderers are confident - with or without having to contend with Alessandro Del Piero.
The Sky Blues' star target man is struggling with a calf injury and is unlikely starter at Allianz Stadium, but Popovic said whether or not the influential Sky Blues captain plays won't have any influence over his squad's game plan.
"It's really, you know, it's in their hands. We can't control whether he plays or not," Popovic said.
"We feel that he'll be involved at some point, but if he's not we're also prepared for that situation."
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1171481/Popovic-coy-on-Crystal-Palace-link