Allardyce loses England manager’s job after one game in charge
Distraught Allardyce loses job after just 67 days following “error of judgment”
ENGLAND boss Sam Allardyce sensationally quit last night after being engulfed by an undercover sting scandal.
He stepped down “by mutual consent” with his FA bosses after just 67 days in the £3million job of his dreams.
Allardyce, 61, had been filmed by undercover reporters he thought were businessmen seeking advice on how to sidestep rules on transferring players.
He reportedly tried to negotiate a £400,000 deal for himself while being openly critical of the England team set-up – including its performance at Euro 2016.
News that he had stepped down came more than 12 hours after he slipped out of his house at 7am wearing an unbuttoned shirt to head for crisis talks with FA chiefs.
In a statement, the game’s governing body said: “The FA can confirm that Sam Allardyce has left his position as England manager.
“His conduct, as reported, was inappropriate. He accepts he made a significant error of judgment and has apologised.
“However, due to the serious nature of his actions, the FA and Allardyce have mutually agreed to terminate his contract with immediate effect.
“This is not a decision that was taken lightly but the FA’s priority is to protect the wider interests of the game.”
In a statement of his own, the former Bolton, West Ham and Sunderland boss said: “Further to recent events, the FA and I have mutually agreed to part company.
“It was a great honour for me to be appointed back in July and I am deeply disappointed.
“I have offered a sincere and wholehearted apology for my actions. Although it was made clear during the recorded conversations that any proposed arrangements would need the FA’s full approval, I recognise I made some comments which have caused embarrassment. “I was asked to clarify what I said and the context in which the conversations took place. “I have co-operated fully and also regret my comments with regard to other individuals.” Allardyce was recorded telling the fake businessmen that dodging rules banning a third party from profiting from transfers was “not a problem”. The practice was banned in 2008 but he told the reporters: “You can still get around it.” He told the group, who he thought represented Far East interests: “Because of the size of the contracts now, the contract will be worth £30-40 million, at 10 per cent and you’ve done a deal with the agent where you’re getting five per cent of the agent’s fee, which is massive for doing about two hours’ work.”
Allardyce was also recorded mocking predecessor Roy Hodgson, dubbing him “Woy” and saying he did not have the “personality” to lead England.
He also criticised Princes William and Harry as well as ex-England assistant manager Gary Neville – saying Hodgson should have told him to “shut up” during the Euros flop.
His departure came after talks with FA bosses Greg Clarke and Martin Glenn, who studied full transcripts of two meetings he held.
His place will be taken for the moment by Under-21s boss Gareth Southgate, who will be in charge for England’s next four games – kicking off with their first World Cup qualifier against Malta on October 8.
Last night ex-England striker Stan Collymore said the controversy was “proof that football has lost its soul and has been taken over by greed”.
SAM ALLARDYCE’S tenure as England manager ended in humiliation last night as he lost his job after just 67 days in charge.
Allardyce’s behaviour was deemed “inappropriate” by the Football Association after he became embroiled in a newspaper sting in which he offered advice to bogus businessmen on circumventing rules on transfers.
He also looked to use his position as England manager to secure a £400,000 deal to act as an ambassador for a fictitious Far East firm on top of his £3million-a-year salary. Allardyce apologised to FA chairman Greg Clarke and CEO Martin Glenn for a “significant error of judgement” during a series of emergency meetings at Wembley yesterday. Yet despite his backtracking, he paid the ultimate price and an agreement to mutually terminate his two-year contract was made after just two months at the helm.
“It was a great honour for me to be appointed back in July and I am deeply disappointed at this outcome,” said a devastated Allardyce, who admitted additional comments, including those in which he mocked predecessor Roy Hodgson as “Woy,” had caused embarrassment.
Under-21s coach Gareth Southgate, above, will now take charge of England on an interim
basis for the next four games – Malta, Slovenia, Scotland and Spain – while the search for Allardyce’s successor begins. Southgate will effectively be handed an audition for the job. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, below, could come back on their radar given his contract is due to expire at the end of the season. It is understood Allardyce, 61, accepts he has only himself to blame for his stunning downfall as the dream job he craved for the best part of a decade slipped through his fingers. Undercover reporters twice arranged meetings with him, during which he was filmed agreeing to strike a lucrative deal with a fictitious Far East firm to act as an ambassador. Allardyce also said the FA’s rules on third party ownership of players were “ridiculous” and there were ways to “get around them”. Those comments left the integrity of the FA at risk and in a statement released just before 8pm last night they pulled no punches. “Allardyce’s conduct was inappropriate of the England manager,” it said. “He accepts he made a significant error of judgment and has apologised. This is not a decision that was taken lightly but the FA’s priority is to protect the wider interests of the game and maintain the highest standards of conduct in football. “The manager of the England men’s senior team is a position which must demonstrate strong leadership and show respect for the integrity of the game at all times.” FA chief executive Martin Glenn said: “Sam is absolutely distraught. I know personally that he is deeply, deeply upset and deeply regrets the error of judgment but I also think that he understands why the FA has had to take this tough decision.”