SAM: SAVING PALACE HAS RESCUED ME FROM ENGLAND HEARTBREAK

SAM ALLARDYCE says guiding Crystal Palace to survival has helped him put his England misery behind him. Big Sam was drafted in by Palace chairman Steve Parish to halt the London club’s slide towards the Championship. And after completing that job with a crushing victory over fellow strugglers Hull last week, Allardyce (left) is now looking forward to a summer planning major improvements to his squad and backroom staff at Selhurst Park. Allardyce, who lasted just 67 days as England manager, losing his job after a newspaper sting, said:: “The chairman gave me a chance to come and save Palace and we’ve both got what we wanted. “I’ve worked hard with the backroom staff and the support staff and the owners, and we’ve all pulled it together in a short period of time and been successful – that puts the past in the past. “You can look and move on with your life and say ‘look what’s happened at Crystal Palace’ and wonder what can be built for next season. “So I always say look to the future and not in the past because you can’t affect the past any more.” Allardyce’s four January signings – Mamadou Sakho, Jeff Schlupp, Patrick van Aanholt and Luka Milivojevic – were key figures in the run-in. But the manager added: “Next season it will be five years in the Premier League for Palace and we have to move forward. If you’re going to stand still you’ll end up getting relegated. So you’ve got to improve the squad and improve the team. ‘‘You’ve got to improve the backroom staff, and ask the players to deliver more, especially if they get new contracts. “Our target next season would depend on how well we recruit, on the budget we are given to spend on all areas of the club, particularly the backroom staff which is most important to me. “It’s a whole football department to try and improve.”