Big Sam bitter over England snub

21 February 2009 15:04
The then-Bolton boss Allardyce was in the running to succeed Sven Goran Eriksson after the 2006 World Cup, but the FA chose to appoint Eriksson's assistant Steve McClaren instead.[LNB]And now, some two-and-a-half years on, the Blackburn manager still seems bitter about the decision.[LNB]He told The Guardian: "It wouldn't be mentioned at all now would it, Sam Allardyce for the England job?[LNB]"But at the time I should have got it and I really don't know why I didn't. It had to be political for me, rather than my credentials.[LNB]"Maybe my external look isn't to everybody's liking and one or two people seem to dislike Sam Allardyce for whatever reason. But as a person, in terms of knowing what he is doing, where to go and how to get there, and helping players do the same, I have the credentials.[LNB]"It was the right time and the right job for me but not from the FA's point of view. It is a political FA board and a real shame in terms of my life. That job doesn't come around too often."[LNB]He continued: "I think they [the FA] went safe, but I don't quite know why they did that. I couldn't have given them any more about the way forward than I did. [LNB]"From all accounts that thoroughly impressed them so it couldn't have been my credentials. It must have been something political. Perhaps the people on the board are influenced by outside factors too much, because of the pressure they are under from the media. [LNB]"Maybe that affects them somewhat when they should be making cold, clinical decisions on who is the best. It was a great run for me right up to a big disappointment at the end."[LNB]Allardyce went on to claim that he still has the credentials to manage his country, and criticised the FA for appointing a foreign coach when McClaren was sacked following failure to qualify for Euro 2008.[LNB]"I am probably even better equipped to do the job now but would never get a mention," he said.[LNB]"I never got a mention when Steve went, they just went straight for another foreigner. [LNB]"It seems foreign coaches are still all the craze (sic) for the top jobs and that is a great shame. [LNB]"I also think that Steve not being successful was a massive blow for British or English managers, because it has put us down a peg or two. I thought I was really equipped, well-versed and ready to make England as successful as they really wanted to be. [LNB]"More importantly, I thought I would have had the squad and the players to do that, but somewhere along the line they thought it wasn't for me."[LNB][LNB] England's 1st Defeat. Click here to bet.[LNB] 

Source: Team_Talk