Following the resignation of manager Roy Hodgson over England’s poor showing at EURO 2016, Sunderland’s Sam Allardyce has been interviewed for the England job, he had always wanted for years, at the home of FA vice-chairman David Gill on Tuesday.
Allardyce sneaked into the UK from Sunderland’s pre-season training camp in Austria, and met with Gill, FA technical director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Martin Glenn.
The Sunderland boss, 61, wearing tracksuit, was spotted at lunchtime and later as he entered and left Gill’s Cheshire home in a chauffeur-driven Mercedes.
His club has confirmed that Allardyce was given permission to speak to the FA over the England position.
“The Football Association contacted Sunderland AFC to seek permission to speak with our manager as part of what was supposed to be a confidential discussion process with potential candidates for the position of England manager,” read an official statement from Sunderland.
“At Sam Allardyce’s request, we agreed to this.
“Sam is very much key to our plans. After what was an extremely challenging season, we are keen to see a period of stability, both on and off the field, and we want him to remain as manager of our football club.
“The ongoing speculation over Sam’s position is extremely damaging to Sunderland AFC, particularly at this crucial time of the season and we urge the FA to respect the disruption that this process is causing and bring about a swift resolution to the matter.”
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