Next England manager: Sunderland brand Sam Allardyce reports 'extremely damaging' following talks with the FA

Allardyce is reported to have been interviewed about replacing Hodgson this week

Samuel Stevens
Wednesday 13 July 2016 09:16 EDT
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Sunderland have confirmed they have granted Sam Allardyce permission to speak with the Football Association but have branded the process “extremely damaging” to their pre-season plans as the search for the new England manager rumbles on.

Allardyce is reported to have been interviewed about the possibility of replacing Roy Hodgson this week with Greg Dyke, the FA chairman, David Gill, the vice-chairman, and chief executive Martin Glenn said to have been present for the talks.

Arsene Wenger is also candidate but has one year remaining on his contract with Arsenal while Steve Bruce, the Hull City manager, and former Paris Saint-Germain head coach Laurent Blanc have been suggested as possible contenders.

A Sunderland statement on Wednesday morning read: “The Football Association contacted Sunderland AFC to seek permission to speak with our manager as part of what was supposed to be a confidential discussion process with potential candidates for the position of England manager. At Sam Allardyce’s request, we agreed to this.

“Sam is very much key to our plans. After what was an extremely challenging season, we are keen to see a period of stability, both on and off the field, and we want him to remain as manager of our football club.

“The ongoing speculation over Sam’s position is extremely damaging to Sunderland AFC, particularly at this crucial time of the season and we urge the FA to respect the disruption that this process is causing and bring about a swift resolution to the matter.”

Allardyce has previously been interviewed for the England manager’s job, following the departure of Sven Goran Eriksson in 2006, but the 61-year-old was overlooked in favour of the Swede’s then-assistant Steve McClaren.

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