Allardyce set for England job: Dyke
ENGLAND BOSS: It has been reported that the FA’s first choice was Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
LONDON: Sam Allardyce is set to be hired as the new England manager at a Football Association board meeting at Wembley on Thurday, FA chairman Greg Dyke said.
Allardyce has been selected by a threeman panel who decided the Sunderland boss was the best bet on a short-list that also included Hull manager Steve Bruce, Bournemouth chief Eddie Howe and USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
It has been reported that the FA’s first choice was Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, but when he snubbed their approach, Allardyce, who had received a strong recommendation from former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson, shot to the top of their list of candidates to replace Roy Hodgson.
Dyke is due to step down after three years as FA chairman on Thursday but, although he was not involved in the head-hunting process, he will be present as FA chief executive Martin Glenn and vice-chairman David Gill present their reasons for nominating Allardyce.
Asked if Allardyce was the man to take over from Hodgson, who quit after England’s humiliating Euro 2016 defeat against Iceland, Dyke told Sky Sports News: “Clearly the three-man group are convinced he’s the right man and I go along with that, yes.
“We appointed a three-man committee to go out and look at all the candidates, come back with a recommendation who they thought was the best man. They’ve taken that decision and obviously we’ll agree with them.
“I think you’d have to ask them but as far as I understand it that’s the discussion.”
Once that is ratified the business of finalising the details will take precedence — with personal terms still to be settled and a compensation package for Sunderland among the outstanding issues.
LONGER PARTNERSHIP All parties would prefer for a swift resolution, with the new Premier League season on the horizon and England’s World Cup qualifying campaign beginning on September 4, but it is possible an official announcement on Allardyce’s appointment may could be held up by negotiations.
The Black Cats have already made their unhappiness clear and could hold out for a sizeable pay-off.
Allardyce took charge of Sunderland for what should be the final time during a 3-0 friendly win over Hartlepool on Wednesday, but did not re-emerge for the second half as news of his impending appointment broke.
It is thought Allardyce will be offered an initial two-year deal up to the end of the 2018 World Cup campaign.
But Glenn is hoping for a longer partnership and intends to integrate Allardyce into the wider FA system, working alongside coaches of the national age-group sides from Under- 16s upwards.
Sven-Goran Eriksson was the last England manager to enjoy a run of relative success and the Swede has backed Allardyce to get the national team back on track after the last two miserable tournaments under Hodgson.
When the Swede left his post 10 years ago, Allardyce came second to Steve McClaren in the race to succeed him but is now within touching distance of his dream job.
Eriksson, who led England to three successive major tournament quarterfinals, does not see Allardyce’s lack of experience at an elite club as a potential problem.
“If you take a team from the lower part of the table you have to adapt to what you want to do,” Erikson said.
“You have to defend and have to be organised. I think it depends on the situation.
“Many times Sam has had a team struggling for survival and he has done the job.