Former England national football team manager Sam Allardyce says that ‘entrapment has won’ following his dismissal by the FA.
The former Sunderland manager was in charge of the national team for just 67 games, in which time just he oversaw just one match (a 1-0 win over Slovakia), but was fired after being caught up in a Telegraph sting which involved Allardyce offering advice on how to circumnavigate transfer rules around third-party ownership.
‘Obviously I have to do this before I go away. On reflection it was a silly thing to do,’ Allardyce told Sky Sports reports on Wednesday.
‘I was trying to help someone out I knew for 30 years and unfortunately it was an error in judgement on my behalf.
‘Entrapment has won on this occasion and I have to accept that.
‘The agreement was done very amicably, I apologised to the FA and to all concerned for the unfortunate situation that I put myself in.
‘I have a confidentially agreement lads, I can’t answer any more questions just now, I’m going on holiday to reflect.
‘I would like to wish Gareth and all the rest of the England lads the very best.’
Allardyce is now England’s shortest-serving full-time manager.
Former England international and current U21s coach Gareth Southgate will assume the duties of caretaker manager of England until a successor to Allardyce is named.
England’s next match is a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Malta on Saturday, October 8.