Taylor's dilemma over England offer

14 April 2012

Crystal Palace manager Peter Taylor faces a club v country dilemma after being asked to lead the England Under 21 side into next summer's European Championship.

Taylor's role at the finals in Holland had been in doubt after head coach Steve McClaren expressed his desire for a full-time appointment to be made before the start of the tournament.

However, FA chiefs have been in contact with Taylor to offer him the chance to finish the job he started on a part-time basis and, although he has told friends that he would like to see it through, he is mindful that Palace are paying a heavy price for his absence.

Sportsmail can reveal that Taylor is so concerned at how Palace's results deteriorated in the immediate aftermath of the Under 21s' qualification that he will spend the weekend considering whether to accept the FA's offer.

Although his position at Selhurst Park is not under threat, he is concerned that the downturn in the club's fortunes is partly because of his involvement with the national set-up.

Palace chairman Simon Jordan enjoys the prestige of Taylor taking charge of the England side, but will not have been left pleased by the poor run which saw his Championship club slip out of the play-off picture. They have even dropped into the bottom half.

Palace lost the two games which followed Taylor's return from a Euro 2007 qualifier against Switzerland, with the same fate befalling them after the play-off success against Germany earlier this month.

Although the finals will not take place until June, Taylor is concerned that the two friendlies that have been arranged in the build-up to the tournament could affect his club's promotion chances.

The Under 21s travel to Holland for a match next month before playing Spain in February.

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