Big Sam feels
sorry for England boss
Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce has distanced himself from the
currently precarious England manager's job.
Allardyce, overlooked for the post after Sven-Goran Eriksson's
departure, is one of the bookmakers' favourites to replace Steve
McClaren, should England not qualify for Austria and
Switzerland.
McClaren is under intense pressure following the miserable defeat
in Russia, and some sectors of the press have begun to put forward
their ideas of potential replacements.
But Allardyce has backed the former Middlesbrough boss, and spoken
of his optimism that England might squeeze through
qualification.
Friendly
"I am very friendly with Steve and I would never talk about anybody
else's position while they are in the job," he said.
"He should be allowed to see it through to the end. We are not out
of it. We have still got the opportunity to get there - I know we
have to rely on somebody else first, but that's football.
"It can happen and it can give us a lifeline, and I am sure we will
take it.
"You have got all this hysteria which revolves around it. It really
doesn't matter how well or badly England played anymore, you know
what you are going to get, and Steve, unfortunately, is getting
it."
