Shamed Sam takes wife off to ‘chill’ in the sun
SAM Allardyce flew out of Britain yesterday with £1million in his pocket after being forced to quit in disgrace as England manager.
The 61-year-old was handed the huge pay-off as he lost his dream job after just 67 days – the shortest reign as England manager.
Before heading off to his bolthole abroad Allardyce blamed “entrapment” for his downfall.
He left behind a growing corruption scandal following claims that eight unnamed current or former Premier League managers took bungs when buying players.
Yesterday Allardyce admitted he made “an error of judgment” after he was caught out in an undercover sting as he negotiated a £400,000 deal with fake businessmen.
As he prepared to set off from his £500,000 home in Bolton with wife Lynne, he told how he had just been “to help” out a friend of 30 years, his agent Scott McGarvey.
Allardyce said: “On reflection it was a silly thing to do. It was an error of judgment on my behalf and I’ve suffered the consequences. Entrapment has won on this occasion and I have to accept that.”
Showdown
The father of two paid the ultimate price after he was filmed allegedly cashing in on his role as England boss by undercover reporters posing as businessmen.
He was secretly recorded as he offered advice on how to sidestep transfer rules laid down by the FA.
Hours after the revelations Allardyce was summoned for a showdown with FA chiefs at Wembley Stadium.
After the meeting it was announced on Tuesday night that he was stepping down from his £3million-a-year job “by mutual consent”. Gareth Southgate will take charge of England’s next four matches
Big Sam said yesterday: “The agreement was done very amicably with the FA and I apologise to those and all concerned in the unfortunate position I’ve put myself in.”
The former Sunderland and West Ham boss said he had a confidentiality agreement and could not answer further questions.
He added: “I’m off abroad to chill out and reflect. I’d like to wish all the England lads, Gareth and all the staff all the very best.”
Asked whether he would return to football as a manager in the future, Allardyce was uncertain, simply offering: “Who knows?”
The former England boss then climbed into a taxi after the driver had helped carry matching suitcases to the car. He is thought to be heading to his £1.5million holiday home called “Big Sam’s villa” in the Spanish hills on the Costa Blanca.
Allerdyce’s departure means the FA is once again on the lookout for a new manager just months after crashing out of the Euro 2016 tournament.
Allardyce mocked Roy Hodgson and said his predecessor didn’t have the “personality” to lead England. He also criticised Princes William and Harry as well as former assistant manager Gary Neville.
But his thoughts on ways around the FA’s ban on third-party ownership of stars was arguably even more damaging. He told investigators it was “not a problem” to bypass rules and claimed he knew of agents who were “doing it all the time”.
Yesterday former England captain Alan Shearer accused Allardyce of a “catastrophic misjudgment” and claimed that England were now the “laughing stock of world football”.
Meanwhile football chiefs were bracing themselves for more revelations.
Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker said on Twitter: “Surely it’s time for a proper police investigation into such allegations. The game is rife with corruption and needs cleaning up. Now.”