‘It was too good a chance to turn down’

JAMIE McAllister says he had no qualms about turning down the chance to go into management in favour of a reunion with Lee Johnson at Sunderland.

McAllister worked as Johnson’s number two for four-and-a-half years at Bristol City before they left Ashton Gate this summer, with Johnson sacked in July and McAllister departing the following month when Dean Holdsworth took charge.

National League North side Gloucester City offered McAllister a chance to strike out on his own, but less than 24 hours later Johnson was preparing to take charge at Sunderland and asked the 42-year-old to join him.

“I’ve known the gaffer a long time, played alongside him at Hearts and Bristol City, and been friends with him for over 15 years,” said McAllister.

“He brought me in at Bristol City as U23s coach and then I worked with him at first-team level for four-and-a-half years, so I know exactly how he works and I have a good relationship with him.

“We both sing from the same songsheet in terms of playing philosophy and style.

“A few things came up over the summer, I went for a few interviews, and I was offered the Gloucester City job on the Thursday evening.

“That would have been a job just 45 minutes from my house, a good project, a good opportunity for me to go into management, but when the gaffer phoned me on the Friday morning and said ‘pack your bags, we’re going to Sunderland’, it was too good a chance to turn down.

“We had been playing a lot of golf and talking a lot over the three or four months we were off, and he said that wherever he went he wanted to bring me in so I always had it in my mind to go and work with him again.

“We have been successful in the past working together, so hopefully we can go on and build something good here and be successful.”