Sam Allardyce reveals how Sir Alex Ferguson helped him to bounce back from nightmare England reign
Big Sam resigned after just one game in charge following scandal but is now enjoying life with Crystal Palace
SAM ALLARDYCE revealed how Sir Alex Ferguson was key to his rehabilitation into football.
But Big Sam fears his reputation will always be tarnished by the undercover sting that cost him his dream England job.
Allardyce — now boss at Crystal Palace — was axed by the FA last September after just 67 days in charge.
And he said old pal Fergie helped get him out of hiding after he went to Spain to flee the flak.
He was back on public view less than a month later when he sat with Ferguson at Old Trafford to watch Manchester United in the Europa League.
Allardyce, who takes his Palace side back to United today, said: “Fergie invited me to a game and told me to get back out there. The more people that support you, the quicker you recover.
“And the only thing I could do was jump back into the game. I needed it for my own rehabilitation.”
Allardyce, 62, was out of work for just three months before Palace called.
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He might have been daft rather than dirty but the Eagles boss admits he will never silence his snipers.
He added: “When the s*** flies, it leaves a scar whether you’re guilty or not. Some people say, ‘He must have done something’.
“My part of the story wasn’t about corruption. It was about taped conversations and using parts of those conversations to say I was greedy, I was breaking the rules.
“It was only greedy if I had done it, but I should have kept my big mouth shut.”