Sam Allardyce: My regret and deep disappointment at losing the England job
SAM ALLARDYCE has issued a grovelling apology after he was sacked as England manager after just 67 days in charge.
Allardyce was given the boot by the Football Association after being caught up in a newspaper sting over his off-field business dealings.
And the 61-year-old admitted he was gutted to be leaving the job he always craved - and that he was deeply sorry to those he offended in the game.
Allardyce said: "Further to recent events, The FA and I have mutually agreed to part company.
"It was a great honour for me to be appointed back in July and I am deeply disappointed at this outcome.
"This afternoon, I met with Greg Clarke and Martin Glenn and offered a sincere and wholehearted apology for my actions.
"Although it was made clear during the recorded conversations that any proposed arrangements would need The FA’s full approval, I recognise I made some comments which have caused embarrassment.
"As part of today’s meeting, I was asked to clarify what I said and the context in which the conversations took place. I have co-operated fully in this regard.
"I also regret my comments with regard to other individuals."
Allardyce's departure came at the end of an extraordinary day for the FA after they were forced into launching an investigation into the manager following revelations in the Telegraph.
He was filmed in the process of agreeing a £400,000 deal as a keynote speaker just weeks after netting his £3milllion-a-year job as England head coach.
Allardyce openly mocked former manager Roy Hodgson over his speech impediment, also criticising his Gary Neville for his role in England's Euro 2016 shambles.
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Big Sam then went on to question whether the England players were mentally capable of succeeding in international football.
And in a damning period of the meeting, Allardyce appeared to be offering the businessmen advice on how to get round FA and FIFA rules regarding third party player ownership.
The FA have now turned to under-21 manager Gareth Southgate to look after the senior team on an interim basis.
Southgate will name his first squad this weekend ahead of the World Cup qualifers against Malta and Slovenia, before matches against Scotland and Spain in November.