Sam Allardyce’s England claims given Gold seal of approval

Sam Allardyce: Favourite for the England job

Sam Allardyce: Favourite for the England job

Sam Allardyce has been singled out as a prime candidate for the England manager’s job by former boss David Gold.

Sunderland manager Allardyce is favourite to succeed Roy Hodgson, who resigned after England’s shock Euro 2016 exit to Iceland.

West Ham co-chairman Gold believes 61-year-old Allardyce would make the ideal replacement.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him,” Gold told BBC Radio 5 live.

“He is determined, he is ambitious. He’s been in the business a long time.

“I think the most important thing from my point of view is that he’s English.”

Allardyce has yet to be contacted by the Football Association over the role amid reports that he would be interviewed this week.

Allardyce left his club’s pre-season training camp in Austria as speculation mounted he has been identified as one of a series of candidates to replace Hodgson, although it is understood his departure is connected to a potential signing.

United States manager Jurgen Klinsmann and Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe also figure prominently in the list of potential candidates said to have been drawn up by the FA’s technical director Dan Ashworth, chief executive Martin Glenn and vice-chairman David Gill.

Allardyce was interviewed for the same job a little more than 10 years ago, only for Steve McClaren to be appointed, although he has enhanced his reputation since, most recently by preserving Sunderland’s Premier League status at the end of last season.

Another man to have been linked with the England post is Hull’s Steve Bruce.

Alan Shearer pushed his name forward on Monday and the former Manchester United defender said he was honoured by the talk.

”It’s highly flattering and I’m honoured to be linked with it,” he told the Hull Daily Mail.

”Whether or not it goes any further than that… It’s the pinnacle isn’t it? To manage your country, there’s no bigger job.

”It’s all speculation. There’s a lot of people who have written nice things and I’m grateful for that.”

 

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