FIREMAN SAM
New boss Allardyce will net £2m bonus if he can steer Baggies away from relegation
SAM ALLARDYCE is inline for a stunning £2million bonus if he keeps West Brom in the Premier League after returning to management following Slaven Bilic’s sacking yesterday.
The former England manager has agreed a deal at t he Hawthorns until at least the end of the season — with an option for a further 12 months if he steers the club to safety.
He will be assisted by trusted friend and coach Sammy Lee.
The Baggies have offered All ardyc ea hugely lucrative remuneration package, which is understood to include the £2m payment to keep the club in the top flight.
The 66-year-old has never been relegated as a Premier League manager and West Brom will hope that run continues following his appointment which was confirmed last night.
Sporting director Luke Dowling confirmed: ‘ In Sam, we have a man who has a proven Premier League pedigree with a track record of improving every club he has managed.
‘ We believe and, more importantly, Sam believes we have a group of players that have the quality needed to give the club its best chance of Premier League survival.’
Despite leading the club back to the top flight, Bilic’s position had been precarious since August amid tensions with senior members of the club hierarchy over their recruitment plans.
The sale of Ahmed Hegazi to Saudi club Al-Ittihad in October brought the rift into the public eye but the tension had been bubbling at the training ground ever since Bilic learned he would have just £25million, plus whatever he could generate from player sales, to spend on new signings for the top flight.
He looked at that in comparison to fellow Premier League newcomers Leeds United, who spent almost £100m on players.
West Brom have suffered eight defeats in 13 matches, yet they are far from cut adrift in the relegation scrap. However, the powers- that- be had already decided Bilic would go if his team lost to Newcastle at St James’ Park last Sunday.
After that turned out to be the case, they decided to replace the Croatian regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s game against Manchester City, a game which they drew 1-1.
Former West Ham boss Bilic reported for training yesterday morning at 9.30am and had breakfast as normal.
He wasn’t told he was sacked until 11.45am, with the news broken to him in his office by Le Xu, the club’s chief executive.
Prior to that meeting, his assistants Dean Računica, Danilo Butorović and Julian Dicks all received phone calls to tell them they had been placed on gardening leave until June 30.
The terms of Bilic’s contract mean West Brom must pay him up the entirety of his deal, which was due to expire on June 30 next year, within 14 days.
Yesterday’s news will not have come as a surprise to Bilic as he has known f or months his position was vulnerable.
Sportsmail can reveal that West Brom had made an approach to Chris Hughton but he had committed to take over at Nottingham Forest.
It is understood Mark Hughes has been another contender for the job in recent days.
In a statement released exclusively to this newspaper, Bi li cs aid :‘ I am hugely disappointed to be leaving West Bromwich Albion. I am proud to have managed the club with full commitment and integrity.
‘I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to all the players, my hard-working coaching team and training ground staff.
‘Most importantly, I pay thanks to all of the fans who make this club so unique and special.
‘I am incredibly proud that we secured automatic promotion from the Championship in our first season.
‘It was a real shame to not have our supporters there with us during that moment and upon our return to the Premier League.
‘In what has been a difficult year for so many, and for many reasons well beyond the control of football, those loyal fans have stood alongside us throughout it all. My staff and I are truly grateful for having had the privilege to serve them. ‘Ultimately, I am sad that it hasn’t worked out in the way we wanted this season. But — especially after the excellent performance away at Manchester City — I leave with my head held high, along with some wonderful memories that I will always cherish.
‘Thank you. I genuinely wish you and the club well for the future.’