“Silly” Allardyce says error of judgment led to shock exit

Reuters:  An emotional and apologetic Sam Allardyce said on Wednesday (28 September) an error of judgment had led to his shock exit as England manager following a newspaper sting.

The 61-year-old was compelled to leave on Tuesday (27 September) for seeking a lucrative sideline role while talking to undercover reporters from Britain’s Daily Telegraph.

Former England soccer manager Sam Allardyce speaks to media as he leaves his home in Bolton, Britain 28 September 2016 - Reuters

The paper said it had hundreds of pages of transcripts from the meeting in which Allardyce was negotiating a deal worth 400,000 pounds ($ 520,840) to represent a Far East firm seeking advice on the transfer market.

Allardyce said it had been a “silly thing” to do but he had been trying to help out someone he had known for 30 years.

“Unfortunately it was an error in judgment on my behalf. I have paid the consequences,” a clearly emotional Allardyce told reporters outside his home in northern England.

“Entrapment has won on this occasion and I have to accept that. I’ve apologized to (the Football Association) and all concerned.”

Earlier he issued a statement in which he offered a “wholehearted apology” to the Football Association (FA) for embarrassing the governing body.

“It was a great honour for me to be appointed back in July and I am deeply disappointed at this outcome,” Allardyce, who replaced Roy Hodgson after England’s dismal Euro 2016 campaign.