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England Manager Sam Allardyce Stands Down After Newspaper Sting

England Manager Stands Down After Just One Match In Newspaper Sting
Sam Allardyce
Nick Potts/PA Wire
Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
Nick Potts/PA Wire
Sam Allardyce

England manager Sam Allardyce has left his job after he was filmed advising businessmen how to get around rules on transferring players.

Allardyce is just 67 days into his role and the national team has played just one match under his tenure.

The Telegraph published footage of him talking to people he did not realise were undercover reporters, saying it was “not a problem” to bypass Football Association (FA) rules which prohibit third parties “owning” players.

He told them: “You can still get around it. I mean obviously the big money’s here.”

He was trying to negotiate a £400,000 deal for himself, despite already being paid £3 million a year as manager.

Allardyce, unaware he was being filmed
The Telegraph
Allardyce, unaware he was being filmed

On Tuesday evening, Football Association chairman Greg Dyke and chief executive Martin Glenn met urgently with Allardyce at Wembley to discuss what to do.

Allardyce offered his resignation rather than be sacked, The Telegraph reports.

The FA confirmed Allardyce was leaving his job on Tuesday evening. They said his departure was by “mutual consent” and said his behaviour had been “inappropriate”.

The FA published a video of Glenn discussing Allardyce’s departure, calling it “a very difficult 24 hours”.

“His behaviour has been inappropriate and frankly not what is expected from an England manager,” Glenn said.

“Discussing a range of issues from a potential contravention of FA rules through to personal comments that frankly just don’t work when you’re manager of England.”

In its statement, the FA said Allardyce “made a significant error of judgment”.

“Due to the serious nature of his actions, the FA and Allardyce have mutually agreed to terminate his contract with immediate effect,” it said.

“This was not a decision that was taken lightly but the FA’s priority is to protect the wider interest of the game and maintain the highest standars of conduct in football.”

Allardyce’s only game in charge was England’s 1-0 victory over Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier.

Gareth Southgate, who currently manages England’s Under-21 side, will step up as caretaker manager for the next four matches against Slovenia, Scotland and Spain.

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