SAM’S GOT THE HEART FOR RELEGATION FIGHT
SAM ALLARDYCE is fit to manage West Brom – and claims his mental health will be sharpened by a relegation scrap. He has undergone surgery on his heart in the past and was famously wired to a stress monitor during a Premier League fixture, which led to medical checks that bosses still take to this day.
The ex-england coach, 66, says putting his wellbeing on the line ‘was a consideration’ but insisted he is in good shape.
“My health was a factor for me,” he said. “But from that game at Bolton against Leicester when I was wired up, the League Managers’ Association set up the Fit To Manage programme that we can visit at any time of the year to be checked over.
“On top of that, my wife and I do a full body medical once every three years. That’s given us an indication of where we are.
“I also had two stents put in during my time at Blackburn Rovers in 2009. That caused me to look after myself more than I did before because I was looking after my players and ignoring my own health.
“I have learnt to deal with the pressures of football but also to recognise that my health is important – not only for me – but for my wife, children and grandchildren. But I do also know that the stimulation you get from football also gives you the right mental health.
“You can feel down, you sometimes don’t feel worthy because you are not having anything to do with football any more.”
Allardyce said during his unveiling that he is even teased by his pals about being a Premier League trouble-shooter – they text him and leave messages for ‘Red Adair’, the famous American oil-well firefighter.
The fact he has agreed an 18-month contract with the hierachy at the Hawthorns suggests that even if the Baggies suffer relegation he will still be around to try to lead them back into the top flight.
However, he is keen that his record of never having been demoted is protected.
He said: “I’d be massively upset if we were relegated. If I stay at West Brom and get them back up, it might be a relief for me to get them back into the Premier
League again and right a wrong.
“But I’d still have that tag of being relegated. Being the one that took them down – I don’t want that, if I can help it.”