I’ll work for Nolan one day, says Allardyce

SAM ALLARDYCE says he will gladly join new Leyton Orient boss Kevin Nolan in the dugout when his own managerial career is finished. Nolan, 33, was unveiled as player-manager at the Matchroom Stadium yesterday to become the youngest boss in the Football League. The midfielder has trained with Orient in recent months after leaving West Ham in August. But after failing to find a new club he has now accepted a two-and-a-half-year deal to manage the League Two outfit — currently 11th and three points off the play-offs — and has appointed Wally Downes as his assistant. Allardyce gave Nolan his debut at first club Bolton and took him to Upton Park from Newcastle. And the 61-year-old Sunderland boss hopes they can team up again in the future. ‘When I retire from doing the frontline job, and if Kevin is still in management and wants me to help him, I would gladly go and help him out if I’m not working at this level,’ he said. ‘I think everyone thought Kevin would be a manager one day, but I think it’s happened without him really thinking about it. I was disappointed Kevin didn’t get a club and play football for as long as he could at a high level. For some unknown reason, nobody wanted to acquire an excellent player.’ Allardyce, though, has urged Nolan not to give up on his playing career. ‘I have stressed to him to play as long as you can. Because managing, no matter where you finish, doesn’t substitute playing,’ he said.