Allardyce expected to resign to avoid sack

Matt Stead

Sam Allardyce is expected to offer his resignation as England manager as opposed to facing the sack, and he could leave as early as Tuesday evening.

Named Roy Hodgson’s successor after the embarrassing Euro 2016 exit to Iceland, the former Bolton, West Ham and Sunderland boss’ position is under enormous scrutiny just 67 days after being handed the role of his dreams.

Allardyce was secretly filmed by the Daily Telegraph’s investigations team during a 10-month probe, which the newspaper claims “separately unearthed widespread evidence of bribery and corruption in British football”.

The video appears to show the 61-year-old making numerous controversial remarks about subjects varying from England players to circumventing regulations, and side work to his employers.

The England manager left his home in Bolton, Greater Manchester, shortly before 7am on Tuesday without comment.

By midday The Times and Telegraph were reporting that Allardyce could face the sack later on Tuesday having been summoned to Wembley, where FA chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn are said to be holding an emergency meeting.

It is now claimed by the Daily Mirror and The Guardian that Allardyce could offer his resignation as opposed to facing the sack.

The FA has refrained from making any official statement, but Press Association Sport understands a sacking outcome would not come as a big surprise to some in the England dressing room.

The Telegraph’s video appears to show Allardyce negotiating a £400,000 deal to address investors in a Far East firm, albeit saying he would “have to run it past the powers that be” before committing to a deal.

The England manager was also captured appearing to tell a fictitious businessman how to circumvent third-party ownership laws, saying it was “not a problem” to get around FA rules which stop third parties ”owning” football players’ economic rights.

The controversial practice was banned by the FA in 2008 over concerns it compromised the integrity of the game, as the third party could profit whenever a player was sold.