Allardyce set to be named England manager

LONDON: Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce is set to be appointed England’s new manager in the next 24 hours, British media reported on Wednesday.

England have been without a coach since Roy Hodgson stepped down following their Euro 2016 exit to Iceland in the last 16 and Sky Sports said Allardyce would be ratified as his replacement at a Football Association board meeting on Thursday.

Allardyce, 61, has been manager at Sunderland since last October and managed to steer them clear of relegation last season.

The club said late on Wednesday, however, that they were frustrated with the situation. “Naturally we are aware of the intense media speculation this evening, however, at the present time Sam Allardyce remains Sunderland manager,” the club said in a statement.

“We share in the anger and frustration of our supporters and would like to assure them that we are working to conclude the matter in the best interests of Sunderland AFC.”

Allardyce’s coaching CV has included spells at Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United, but he has never managed a club who were likely to challenge for the Premier League title.

He has, however, never been relegated from England’s top flight and has not been afraid to ruffle some feathers along the way with some opposing coaches criticising his playing style and accusing his teams of being overly physical or employing negative tactics.”