Sam Allardyce will be named as the new England manager – with confirmation expected in the next 24 hours. Allardyce will leave Sunderland after nine months at the Premier League club. The 61-year-old replaces Roy Hodgson, who resigned after the surprise defeat by Iceland at this summer’s Euro 2016 finals in France.
Allardyce, a former West Ham, Newcastle and Bolton boss, spoke to the Football Association last week and has been chosen ahead of Hull’s Steve Bruce. The only remaining issue to be settled is compensation to Sunderland, with Allardyce having a year left on his contract at the Stadium of Light.
The club issued a statement on Wednesday, saying it was “aware of the intense media speculation”, but that Allardyce remained in charge “at the present time”. It added:
“We share in the anger and frustration of our supporters and would like to assure them that we are working to conclude the matter in the best interests of Sunderland AFC.”
Allardyce was interviewed for the England job following Sven-Goran Eriksson’s departure after the 2006 World Cup but Steve McClaren was appointed. His first competitive game in charge will be a World Cup qualifier in Slovakia on 4 September.