Palace abdication
Allardyce quits
Sam Allardyce has stunned Crystal Palace by quitting and said that he is bringing his 26-year career as a manager to an end.
He issued a statement last night confirming that he had resigned, adding that it was for personal reasons and that there had been no row or disagreement with Palace chairman Steve Parish over transfer funds, recruitment or signings.
“In some ways, this has been a very difficult decision to make but in others it has been a simple one,” Allardyce’s statement said.
“I will always be grateful to 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. They gave me a chance of rebuilding my reputation after what happened with England. I felt I needed another shot at being a Premier League manager and, in helping to achieve something, Palace gave me the chance of rehabilitation.
“That’s why it’s hard walking away now. I think the club are heading in the right direction with a hugely supportive board of directors, a great squad of players and some of the most passionate fans I’ve ever met. It’s been a privilege to have worked here for the past five months.
“But there comes a time when you have to take stock of what direction you want your life to take – and that’s been the simple part for me. I want to be able to savour life while I’m still relatively young and 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 club, let alone one in the Premier League.”
Allardyce and Parish met yesterday at the chairman’s offices in central London. Allardyce informed him he wanted to resign during talks which were said to be “amicable”. Under the terms of the 62-yearold’s contract, he is able to leave, once he puts it in writing, before June 30. Allardyce will be paid the £2million bonus he is due for keeping Palace in the Premier League.
The talks were initially scheduled to discuss transfer targets and budgets. Instead, they ended with Palace now searching for their eighth manager in seven years, although the club are appreciative that Allardyce has told them quickly and they now have time to draw up a list of potential candidates.
“Steve Parish has been superb during our conversations today,” Allardyce’s statement went on. “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.”
The Daily Telegraph understands that, also under the terms of Allardyce’s contract, he is not able to take another management job for two years without having to pay substantial compensation to Palace. It is understood he genuinely wants to take time off.
Allardyce wanted to “go out on a high”, according to a source, after successfully saving Palace from relegation, having guided them to safety after succeeding Alan Pardew when he was sacked around Christmas after a run of one win in 11 and with the club 17th. Allardyce secured Palace’s top-flight status with the recent resounding win over Hull.
His decision, nevertheless, is a surprise. He is understood to want to spend time with his family. His wife, Lynne, has remained in the family home at Bolton while he has rented a flat. He will not formally retire from management, although, in a clear indication that his reasons are as stated, he has walked away from receiving a big pay rise at Palace, where he would have tripled his salary had he stayed. He was contracted to the club until 2019 after agreeing an initial 2½-year deal last December.
Palace’s hierarchy were locked in meetings last night as they started to look for another manager. They have to decide on the future of a number of players, including Joe Ledley, who is out of contract.