Sam Allardyce quits Sunderland training camp to fly home as FA seek talks with potential new England manager
Big Sam has flown home from Austria to meet with FA bigwig Dan Ashworth as hunt for Roy Hodgson's replacement goes on
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SAM ALLARDYCE has flown back to England and is expected to hold talks with the FA before the end of the week.
Sunderland’s manager quit his side’s training camp in Austria as the FA’s head of elite development Dan Ashworth prepares to meet him face-to-face.
Big Sam supposedly returned on club business but it is understood Ashworth wants talks with him about succeeding Roy Hodgson.
SunSport told last week how Allardyce has already held preliminary talks to declare an interest in the England job.
Now the FA are planning to follow that up by meeting potential replacements for Hodgson before the end of the week.
Jurgen Klinsmann has also attracted support, but it would be a bold move by England to appoint a German who is the head coach of the USA.
The FA’s taskforce, comprising Ashworth, chief exec Martin Glenn and vice-chairman David Gill, have already drawn up a list of preferred candidates.
Although the process appears to be painstakingly slow, Ashworth is determined to make sure that he appoints the right man.
As SunSport revealed last week, Allardyce has the public and private backing of Sir Alex Ferguson, who is still in close contact with Gill following their time together at Manchester United.
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Sunderland’s manager has a get-out clause in his contract at the Stadium of Light that means there is nothing they can do to prevent him becoming England head coach.
He has never made any secret of his ambition to manage the country, but felt it had passed him by when he was overlooked in favour of Steve McClaren in 2006.
Now he has an unexpected opportunity to stake his claim in front of three of the most powerful men in English football.