Big Sam in shock Palace walkout
SAM ALLARDYCE has announced he is quitting football to spend more time with his family.
The Crystal Palace manager shocked Eagles chairman Steve Parish after the pair had met for talks on how to take the club forward.
It was thought that Allardyce, 62, who had signed a two-and-a-half-year deal on his appointment in December, did not get the assurances he wanted on Palace’s transfer policy – but he denied that in a statement last night.
He said: “There comes a time when you have to take stock of what direction you want your life to take.
“I want to be able to savour life while I’m still relatively young and when I’m still relatively healthy enough to do all the things I want to do, like travel, spend more time with my family and grandchildren without the huge pressure that comes with being a football manager.
“This is the right time for me. I have no ambitions to take another job, I simply want to be able to enjoy all the things you cannot really enjoy with the 24/7 demands of managing any football club, let alone one in the Premier League.
“Steve Parish has been superb during our conversations today. I know it came as a shock to him that I would walk away but our discussions have been incredibly civilised with no recriminations and no fallout.
“This is not about transfer targets, finances or anything along those lines. This is me taking the decision I believe is right for my family and myself.
“I’ve no doubt I will miss management but I certainly have no regrets at this decision.”
Before Sunday’s last match of the season, a 2-0 defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford, Allardyce had been involved in discussing the team’s pre-season plans and said he was looking forward to SUPPORT: Allardyce says there has been no confrontation with Palace chairman Steve Parish going on tour to Limerick. But despite Allardyce claiming it was not an issue, it is understood Palace will not be spending big this summer, having splashed out almost £40million on new faces in January.
The two men disagreed on other issues too. Parish has made it a personal mission to keep hold of star man Wilfried Zaha, who has yet to sign a new contract. Allardyce repeatedly suggested over recent weeks that Zaha could be on his way if Palace received a decent offer.
Allardyce also wanted to sign Mamadou Sakho on a permanent deal but the club baulked at Liverpool’s £30m asking price.
Jermain Defoe was another on his wishlist but the England striker has agreed to join Bournemouth instead.
Allardyce was immediately linked with the vacancy at his former club Sunderland, whose manager David Moyes resigned on Monday, despite saying he has no ambition to take another job after a roller-coaster season that began with a 67-day stint in charge of England, who sacked him after revelations in a national newspaper.
“I will always be grateful to Crystal Palace and Steve Parish for giving me the opportunity to go out with my head held high having helped keep the club in the Premier League,” he added. “More than that, they gave me a chance of rebuilding my reputation after what happened with England.”
Palace turned to him five months ago after firing Alan Pardew and Allardyce pulled them clear of the relegation zone from the end of February with a run of six wins in eight games.
Allardyce is reported to have had a break clause in his Palace contract that could be initiated following six months at the helm and is said to have been due a bonus of about £2m for helping retain the Eagles’ top-flight status, confirmed after the 4-0 win over Hull this month.
It leaves the Eagles, who finished seven points clear of the drop zone, looking for their fifth manager in four years.
This is not about transfer targets or finances, it’s right for my family