SAM’S MANAGERIAL RECORD

LIMERICK Allardyce led Limerick to the 1991-92 League of Ireland second-tier title before heading for Preston to take up the No 2 post there. BLACKPOOL In July, 1994, he took charge of Second Division Blackpool. They finished 12th in his first season and third 12 months later but Allardyce was dismissed following a play-off semi-final defeat by Bradford. NOTTS COUNTY Arriving in Nottingham in January 1997, Allardyce was unable to prevent County from slipping into Division Three. However, he led the club to promotion as champions on 99 points at the end of the following campaign. BOLTON He landed the job at Bolton in October 1999. Having steered them into the Premier League at the second attempt, he established Wanderers there after two difficult seasons and guided them to European qualification for the first time in the club’s history. NEWCASTLE His reign lasted just 24 games when new owner Mike Ashley, pictured, decided to give disgruntled fans what they wanted and replaced him with Kevin Keegan. BLACKBURN Rovers were sitting inside the Premier League relegation zone when Allardyce arrived at Ewood Park in December 2008, yet they ended the season in the relative comfort of 15th place. They finished 10th in his first full campaign, but he was sacked in December 2010. WEST HAM Allardyce waited almost six months before returning to the game with relegated West Ham in June 2011 and led them back into the Premier League via the Championship play-off final. His style of play did not sit happily with the expectations of Hammers fans, though, and there was a parting of ways in May 2015. SUNDERLAND Tasked with pulling off another great escape after Dick Advocaat bade farewell in October, Sunderland were still seven points away from safety at the start of January. However, only champions Leicester beat them after February as Allardyce kept a top-flight relegation off his CV.