The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Allardyce sacked
England: Nightmare end to dream
Sam Allardyce, pictured, was sacked as England boss last night. He was targeted in a probe into alleged corruption and his departure comes after 67 days at the helm.
Sam Allardyce’s brief tenure as England manager ended in embarrassment and recrimination after just one game in charge.
His contract was terminated by mutual agreement with the Football Association as chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn confirmed there was no way back from his appearance in a Daily Telegraph investigation into corruption.
Allardyce had been in what he gleefully described as his dream job for just 67 days, meaning his reign was the shortest of any full-time England manager.
The newspaper, as part of a wide-ranging operation, targeted the newly appointed national manager and covertly filmed him making a variety of indiscreet and controversial comments to undercover reporters posing as businessmen.
Some were merely disparaging or offensive – such as those aimed at predecessor Roy Hodgson, who was demeaningly referred to as “Woy” in a reference to his speech impediment – while others were taken more seriously by the FA.
The willingness of Allardyce and his adviser Mark Curtis to negotiate a £400,000 pay day to act as a keynote speaker for investment firms in the Far East was not viewed kindly by employers who already paid him £3million a year, despite his belated caveat that he would need to run any deal “past the powers that be”.
And his thoughts on third-party ownership were arguably even more damaging, as he discussed the apparent circumvention of a practice that was banned by the FA in 2008.
The former Sunderland, West Ham and Bolton manager, whose England side beat Slovakia 1-0 earlier
“Thoughts on third-party ownership were arguably even more damaging”
this month, gave a “sincere and wholehearted apology” for his part in the messy divorce.
England under-21 manager Gareth Southgate will take charge of the senior side’s next four games – the first of which is at home to Malta on October 8 – with a squad announcement due on Sunday.
The status of Allardyceappointed coaches Sammy Lee, Craig Shakespeare and Martyn Margetson has yet to be revealed, indicating they could assist Southgate, who could be considered for a permanent contract alongside the likes of Alan Pardew, Eddie Howe, Steve Bruce and Jurgen Klinsmann.
Hodgson’s assistant Gary Neville, who was also mentioned in lessthan-flattering terms on the Telegraph tapes, looks to have shelved his coaching career.
Glenn will be hoping for a better appointment this time, having led a threeman panel including board member David Gill and technical director Dan Ashworth this summer that decided Allardyce was the right appointment.
Glenn said Allardyce’s behaviour “has been inappropriate and, frankly, not what is expected of an England manager” but described parting ways with him as “painful”. Clarke, who was not yet chairman when Allardyce arrived, went further by suggesting Allardyce was doing “a cracking job” prior to the revelations.
“I don’t think it’s embarrassing. I think it’s rather sad,” Clarke said.
“When you’ve got a
“England had hit an all-time low, but this has to be rock bottom”
manager who is doing a good job and makes some comments that leads him into a situation where his job is no longer tenable, then that’s sad.”
Despite any regrets that may still exist on either side, the wording of the formal announcement left no doubt that had an agreement not been reached, the result would have been dismissal.
“Allardyce’s conduct, as reported today, was inappropriate of the England manager,” read the strongly worded FA statement.
“He accepts he made a significant error of judgment and has apologised. However, due to the serious nature of his actions, the FA and Allardyce have mutually agreed to terminate his contract with immediate effect.
“This is not a decision that was taken lightly but the FA’s priority is to protect the wider interests of the game and maintain the highest standards of conduct in football.
“The manager of the England men’s senior team is a position which must demonstrate strong leadership and show respect for the integrity of the game at all times.
“Gareth Southgate will take charge of the men’s senior team for the next four matches against Malta, Slovenia, Scotland and Spain while the FA begins its search for the new England manager.”
In his first press conference as Three Lions manager, Allardyce denied the England team reached “rock bottom” under Hodgson at Euro 2016, but may now have nudged them to a new nadir.
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand believes other nations will be barely able to contain their mirth at the FA’s latest plight.
“The rest of the football community around the world will just be laughing at us. It just feels like it’s become a comical event, the England manager’s role,” he said.
“This is the man who was probably the most vocal about getting the England job, the most passionate outwardly about getting the England job, but unfortunately he’s backed the FA into a corner and they’ve had to act because of his actions.”
Former England captain Alan Shearer was even more definitive and said: “Still stunned.
“Staggering misjudgment by Sam. I thought post Euros England had hit an all-time low, but this has to be rock bottom.”