Barry Fry believes that Steve Parish may be in talks to sell Crystal Palace amid their hunt for a new manager.

Palace seemed to be on the verge of appointing Lucien Favre as their new boss following talks over a potential three-year contract.

However, The Guardian has reported that the 63-year-old had a last-minute change of heart and decided against putting pen to paper, following the departure of Roy Hodgson at the end of last season.

Palace had already applied for work permits for Favre, so advanced were the negotiations, but the former Borussia Dortmund manager has decided against a move to Selhurst Park.

Fry was surprised that the veteran was linked with potentially replacing Hodgson, but he has now claimed that he believes Parish, the club’s owner, is in negotiations behind the scenes to bring new investment into the club.

And he believes that may be a key reason for their failure to bring a new manager into south London.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “If that happens, why the hell get rid of Roy in the first place? I can’t understand that at all.

“But I think there’s something going on behind the scenes at Palace, I think Steve Parish himself is in talks with investors wanting to buy the club and if you want to buy the club, or invest in a club like Crystal Palace, and it’s multi-millions, you want your say. So I think the hold up with that is if they are getting new owners or new investors and you’re putting your money where your mouth is, then you want a say in what’s going on, and you want a manager of your choice because he plays your style of play.

“So I think there’s a lot behind the scenes and it’s a very difficult time for Crystal Palace.”