The domino effect is in full swing. Just as the footballing world were beginning to come to terms with the shocking sacking of Chris Hughton at Newcastle last week, it has been announced Sam Allardyce has been ‘relieved of his duties as manager of Blackburn Rovers Football Club.’
Allardyce was removed along with his assistant Neil McDonald by the club’s new owners, the Venky’s Group from India.
This comes just a week after England boss Fabio Capello highlighted Allardyce as a possible successor to him in the national team hot seat.
So, what has changed?
Blackburn’s owners will point to the fact that the side have lost three out of their last five games, including a 2-1 defeat by his former club Bolton on Sunday.
Capello also pointed to the importance of giving young English managers a fair opportunity at the highest level. Yet we continue to see two consecutive sackings of English managers.
His last words at the club were damning his side’s defenders and comparing them to ‘a bunch of old women.’ But it appears the club feel he was at fault for the team’s recent performances which included a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Manchester United.
“We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club,” Rovers said in a statement on their website on Monday.
Rovers are currently 13th in the Premier League, five points above the relegation zone, and current first-team coach Steve Kean will take temporary charge of the club.
“I am very shocked and disappointed to be leaving Blackburn Rovers,” said the 56-year-old Allardyce, who joined Blackburn in December 2008 and guided the Lancashire club to a respectable 10th place in the Premier League last season.
“I am extremely proud to have managed this club and I enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the players, my staff and the supporters during my time in charge.
I now wish them and the football club every success for the future”.
Former Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage said he was “shocked” to learn of Allardyce’s departure from Ewood Park. He’s not the only one.
The Rao family completed their £43m takeover of Rovers through their newly formed company, Venky’s London Limited, on 19 October.
And Venky’s chairwoman Anuradha Desai had told the BBC last month that the group had “promised manager Allardyce funds to spend in the January transfer window”.
But in a statement on Monday, the club said: “We would like to put on record our thanks to Mr Allardyce for his contribution to Blackburn Rovers Football Club.”
This empty statement reinforces the fickleness of the modern game.
Expect Avram Grant next in line for the dreaded chop in the Premier League sack race as his West Ham side struggle to string a couple of results together.
Some have touted Allardyce to take over bottom club West Ham but not long ago Allardyce humorously linked himself to the top jobs in Europe after being asked about his ambition in managing a top club.
“I am not suited to Bolton or Blackburn,” he said, in apparent seriousness. “I would be more suited to Inter Milan or Real Madrid.”
Such a move, he believed would bring both him and the club involved unparalleled success. “It would not be a problem to me to go and manage those clubs because I would win the double or the league every time.”
Big Sam’s old foe, Rafa Benitez, should watch his back.
It’s amusing you should come up with this since I had been just thinking about the idea the other day. You’ve depicted my own views exactly.