England manager Sam Allardyce leaves job ‘by mutual consent’ - share your reaction
Sam Allardyce and England have parted company. - Credit: PA
Sam Allardyce has left his job as England manager by mutual consent, the Football Association has announced.
File photo dated 06/09/16 of England manager Sam Allardyce who has been filmed appearing to advise businessmen on how to sidestep an outlawed player transfer practice, as part of a newspaper investigation. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday September 27, 2016. See PA story SPORT Allardyce. Photo credit should read: Nigel French/PA Wire - Credit: PA
The decision comes in the wake of an undercover investigation by The Daily Telegraph in which he was covertly filmed appearing to advise on how to sidestep FA transfer regulations.
In a statement, the governing body said the behaviour of Allardyce was 'inappropriate' and revealed he has 'apologised' for and accepts the 'significant error of judgment'.
'However, due to the serious nature of his actions, The FA and Allardyce have mutually agreed to terminate his contract with immediate effect,' the statement added.
'This is not a decision that was taken lightly but The FA's priority is to protect the wider interests of the game and maintain the highest standards of conduct in football.
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'The manager of the England men's senior team is a position which must demonstrate strong leadership and show respect for the integrity of the game at all times.'
Allardyce was covertly filmed at two meetings he believed were with representatives of a Far East firm.
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Allardyce appeared to tell reporters, who were wearing hidden cameras, that it was 'not a problem' getting around FA rules which stop third parties 'owning' football players' economic rights.
The controversial practice was banned by the FA in 2008 over concerns it compromised the integrity of the game, as the third party could profit whenever a player was sold.
When asked about the rules, Allardyce was captured on a hidden camera saying: 'It's not a problem.'
He said an unnamed group had been 'doing it for years' and 'you can still get around it', suggesting they employ the player's agents to compensate for the fact they are no longer allowed to profit from each transfer directly.
He added: 'You get a percentage of the player's agent's fee that the agent pays to you, the company, because he's done that new deal at the club again or they sell him on, and you're not getting a part of the transfer fee any more, because you can't do that.
'But, you get - because of the size of the contracts now, the contract will be worth thirty, forty million, at 10% and you've done a deal with the agent where you're getting 5% of the agent's fee, which is massive for doing about two hours' work.'
It is alleged by the paper that a deal was struck with the England manager worth £400,000.
Gareth Southgate will take charge of the England team for the next four matches against Malta, Slovenia, Scotland and Spain while the search for another new manager begins, the FA said.
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