Premier League club Newcastle United announced yesterday the appointment of former Bolton coach Sam Allardyce as their new manager on a three-year contract.
The 52-year-old will officially be unveiled as Glenn Roeder's successor at a press conference later in the day.
Allardyce had been the hot favorite to get the job since Roeder was sacked, and held several rounds of talks with club chairman Freddy Shepherd.
He flew in to Tyneside by helicopter in the morning after attending the League Managers' Association dinner in Nottingham the previous night.
He first visited the training ground, where he met those players who have not already started their summer break, but his focus is already on the new season and the task of reviving the club's ailing fortunes.
Allardyce said that Shepherd had quickly convinced him to make the move.
"Once Freddy Shepherd made it clear he wanted me then there was no doubt where I would be going," he told www.nufc.co.uk. "After leaving Bolton last week I was expecting a longer rest but once Freddy opened that door I was in."
Roeder left Newcastle earlier this month after a disappointing season which ended with the club in 13th place having registered their lowest Premiership points total, 43.
Allardyce stepped down from his position as Bolton boss on April 29 after eight successful years with the cash-strapped Lancashire outfit.
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