- Title: Newspaper headlines react to England sacking Sam Allardyce
- Date: 28th September 2016
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 21, 2016) (REUTERS) THE ENGLISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN, GREG CLARKE, WAVING TO ALLARDYCE BEFORE SHAKING HANDS WITH HIM / ALLARDYCE THEN SHAKES HANDS WITH UEFA PRESIDENT, ALEKSANDER CEFERIN, UEFA GENERAL SECRETARY, THEODORE THEODORIDIS AND THE ENGLISH FA CEO, MARTIN GLENN
- Embargoed: 13th October 2016 09:29
- Keywords: England Allardyce Southgate headlines Telegraph
- Location: LONDON, BOLTON, ST GEORGE'S PARK, COLCHESTER AND BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, BOLTON, ST GEORGE'S PARK, COLCHESTER AND BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00451HC01R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Sam Allardyce was sacked as England manager on Tuesday having behaved "inappropriately" when seeking a lucrative sideline role while talking to undercover reporters, bringing a crushing end to his dream job after one match and 67 days in charge.
The 61-year-old's fall from grace was swift after he was summoned to a meeting with new FA chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn to discuss overnight revelations from an undercover sting set up by Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Amid a series of injudicious comments, the issue that seems likely to have persuaded Clarke to use his authority was Allardyce's comments about how FA and FIFA rules banning transfers involving third-party ownership could be circumnavigated.
The Telegraph, which says it has hundreds of pages of transcripts from the meeting, said Allardyce was negotiating a deal worth 400,000 pounds ($520,840.00) to represent a Far East firm seeking advice on the transfer market.
The money would be paid for a series of visits and speeches and, though Allardyce made it clear at the meeting that any arrangement would have to be cleared with the FA and on Tuesday apologised for what he described as an error of judgement, he was forced out of the biggest job in British football.
"Allardyce's conduct was inappropriate of the England manager," the FA said in a statement.
"He accepts he made a significant error of judgement 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."
Allardyce, a former no-nonsense centre half, built his managerial reputation largely by getting the best out of unfashionable or struggling clubs, including Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United and Sunderland.
He was appointed England manager in July following the departure of Roy Hodgson after this year's poor showing by England at the European Championship and has overseen only the 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Slovakia.
One of the highest-paid managers in the game with a salary of about three million pounds ($3.9 million) a year, Allardyce was secretly filmed by the Telegraph discussing England's failings with a group he had been told were businessmen with interests in Singapore and Hong Kong.
During his meetings with the newspaper's undercover reporters, Allardyce also criticised his predecessor Hodgson's speech impediment, referring to him as "Woy" and saying he "hasn't got the personality" for public speaking.
He also made a rambling attack on the UK's tax authorities, calling them "the most corrupt business in Britain".
Seventeen years after Glenn Hoddle was sacked for making comments about the disabled, Allardyce leaves with the tag of being his country's shortest-serving manager.
Gareth Southgate, the early favourite for the job, will take charge of the next four matches against Malta, Slovenia, Scotland and Spain while the FA searches for a new manager, with Steve Bruce, Alan Pardew and Eddie Howe also in the running.
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