While apologising for his indiscretions, Allardyce complained about 'entrapment' by the Daily Telegraph that made his England job untenable after only 67 days and one match in charge
Sam Allardyce, who was sacked as England manager on Tuesday after making humiliating and controversial comments to undercover reporters, leaves his home in Bolton for Spain yesterday. Pic/AFP
Sam Allardyce, who was sacked as England manager on Tuesday after making humiliating and controversial comments to undercover reporters, leaves his home in Bolton for Spain yesterday. Pic/AFP
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Manchester: Sam Allardyce flew out of England yesterday after expressing regret over "silly" unguarded comments to undercover journalists that cost him the England manager's job.
While apologising for his indiscretions, Allardyce complained about "entrapment" by the Daily Telegraph that made his England job untenable after only 67 days and one match in charge. A covert video showed Allardyce appearing to offer advice to fictitious businessmen on how to sidestep an outlawed player transfer practice and also to negotiate a 400,000-pound ($519,000) public-speaking contract to top up an annual England salary of 3 million pounds ($4 million).
A further video showed Allardyce mocking predecessor Roy Hodgson, who was fired after England's humiliating loss to tiny Iceland at the European Championship in June, questioning the FA's financial strategy, and talking dismissively about the organisation's president, Prince William. The 61-year-old Allardyce was filmed in a London hotel in August and a Manchester restaurant talking to the undercover reporters.
"On reflection it was a silly thing to do, but just to let everyone know I'd sort of helped out what was somebody I'd known for 30 years," Allardyce said, referring to football agent Scott McGarvey. "Unfortunately, it was an error of judgement on my behalf and I've paid the consequences. Entrapment has won on this occasion and I have to accept that. The agreement was done very amicably with the FA. I apologise to those and all concerned in this unfortunate situation I've put myself in."
Allardyce never got a chance to manage England at the national stadium, Wembley, with his only game in charge a World Cup qualifying win in Slovakia earlier this month. Speaking outside his home in Manchester, the former West Ham, Sunderland and Bolton boss said: "I am off abroad, just to chill out and reflect."
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