It wasn’t my fault, says Sam

Feb 4 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

SAM Allardyce believes he did the best he could with the limited time and resources he was given by Newcastle United’s new owners as he attempted to shift the blame for the club’s poor season yesterday.

Allardyce was sacked as Magpies manager after less than eight months in charge, but the former Bolton boss suggested he did not receive the same backing from new owner Mike Ashley and his chairman Chris Mort as he would have done from the man who appointed him, Freddie Shepherd.

He said: “It was a massive shock when they decided to make a change. At the start of the season we had a short window with the new owners in which to work in.

“We had not as much money as I had expected. I came to Newcastle to spend big money, which is what Freddie had always done, obviously he’s the man who employed me and obviously not spending would make life difficult at some stage and I explained that to the new owners. I told them we’d get stick at some point and obviously they haven’t been able to withstand that. I’m the casualty of that. Looking back over that short period I don’t think any of it was particularly my fault.

“At the time I considered myself to have a chance there because of what was said to me. The owners are the owners and they do what they see fit to run their football club and you are dependent on two people as a manager, your owners and your players. Your life is not in your hands.”

And, although most supporters would admit they were never convinced by Allardyce’s appointment because of the style of football he favoured, the former boss pointed to sections of the media as he looked to explain the reasons for his demise.

He added: “Is the job too big? That’s an absolute load of rubbish. A job of that size is about the size of the fans, not the club internally. I don’t think the fans didn’t like me. I think they did like me, but it was the agitators that were the problem, the Press and one or two of the ex-players.

“All the managers say the same that I’ve spoken to. Not just Graeme Souness, but Bobby Robson, Kenny Dalglish, even Ruud Gullit. They said it was a particular problem and it’s still there.’’