By Russell Edge

28th Oct, 2020 | 10:35am

Exclusive: Crystal Palace coach in contention for Mansfield job

Crystal Palace development coach Shaun Derry is in contention to become the new Mansfield Town manager, Football Insider understands.

The Stags are currently without a head coach after the club confirmed they had parted ways with Graham Coughlan on Tuesday following their poor start to the season.

A source at Field Mill has told Football Insider that former Notts County and Cambridge Town boss Derry is now in the frame to take charge of the League Two outfit.

The 42-year-old is currently a coach in Palace’s academy, having returned to his old club back in September 2019.

The former midfielder played 216 times for the Eagles over two separate spells at Selhurst Park, while he also features for the likes of Queens Park Rangers, Leeds United and Portsmouth.

He hung up his boots back in 2013 and took on his first management role at Notts County in November that year.

He helped the Magpies avoid relegation from League One but was relieved of his duties in March 2015 after winning just three times in 24 games.

His next role in the dugout came at Cambridge, where he spent two and a half years before leaving by mutual consent.

After a spell as a coach under Karl Robinson at Oxford United, Derry made the move back to Crystal Palace but is now in contention to return to first-team management with Mansfield.

The Stags currently sit 22nd in League Two after five draws and four defeats in their opening nine games of the campaign.

Coughlan was sacked after a 4-2 defeat at home to newly-promoted Barrow on Tuesday.

In other Crystal Palace news, the club have opened contract talks after a summer approach from West Brom.