Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish is hopeful a managerial change can help the Eagles climb out of their "rut" of poor form.
Alan Pardew parted company with Palace this afternoon, leaving the club just one point above the relegation zone ahead of a Boxing Day clash against Watford.
Palace reached the FA Cup final in May but have won just six Premier League fixtures during 2016, prompting their American owners to take action.
Parish has refused to lay the blame for Palace's problems at Pardew's door but admits a new approach was required in an attempt to guide the club away from danger.
“I’m not going to blame other people [American co-owners]," he told the BBC.
"Relegation is so costly and I feel with no blame attached we got ourselves in a rut and need a change. We hope a change will change things."
Pardew sought to introduce a new brand of football at Selhurst Park this season, which failed to lead to the desired upturn in results.
But Parish remains confident the morale in the Palace camp is positive as a search for Pardew's replacement begins.
"We all bought into the decision to play a more expansive style of football. We all believed in it. That hasn't worked. It's no-one's fault.
"The players have been running their socks off for Alan, the spirit is good.
"But now we’re going to wind the dial back the other way. We’re talking to a number of people to make sure we get this right, nothing has been agreed,” Parish added.
Sam Allardyce has been installed as the bookmakers' early favourite to take charge at Palace, despite leaving his England role in September under a cloud of controversy.
