Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce gets the axe
The new owners of Blackburn, the Venky group, have announced that Sam Allardyce has been relieved of his duties as Blackburn manager. The move comes as a shock, considering Blackburn are in a respectable 13th position in the league table. Assistant manager
Neil McDonald has also been sacked. First team coach Steve Keane will now step in as caretaker manager until a suitable replacement for Allardyce can be found. The Venky group, an Indian poultry conglomerate, acquired the club last month for a sum of 43 million
pounds. Allardyces’ sacking comes just 25 days into their reign. A statement released by the club reads, ‘We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club.’
The general consensus is that Sam Allardyce had been doing a good job as manager of Blackburn. Before the game against Bolton on Sunday, Rovers had won four of their last six games. The 2-1 defeat to the Wanderers turned out to be the Blackburn manager’s
last game in charge. However, it seems that results are not the real reason Allardyce was fired. Reportedly, a disagreement in transfer policy was behind this decision.
Apparently sports agency Kentaro would have control over the players the Blackburn manager would sign in January. This went counter to Sam Allardyce’s rule of having complete control of the transfer policy, ultimately leading to his dismissal.
Allardyce says he is shocked and disappointed to be leaving the club in this manner. Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen said he was devasted, adding that Sam Allardyce had helped the club through a tough time. Big Sam, as he is called affectionately, now becomes
the second managerial casualty in the league this season following Chris Hughton’s dismissal from Newcastle. Both decisions have been criticised from all quarters. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, speaking to the press after his sides’ 1-0 victory
over Arsenal, had this to say on the matter,
“I've never heard of such a stupid decision in all my life, it's absolutely ridiculous. I don't know what they're doing up there, but deary me. It confounds common sense to be honest with you.”
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