Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce became the second mid-table Premier League manager to be sacked in eight days after the club’s new Indian owners announced his departure with immediate effect on Monday.
Blackburn, who lost 2-1 at Lancashire neighbors Bolton Wanderers on Sunday, are 10th in the standings — their finishing position last season — and five places better than where they ended the year before.
Newcastle United sacked Chris Hughton last week when they were 11th in the standings, the first -Premier League managerial departure of the season.
Speculation was rife that Allardyce would follow after a run of overnight bets that caused bookmaker William Hill to slash the odds of him being the next manager to go from 33-1 to 3-1.
“We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club. We would like to put on record our thanks to Mr Allardyce for his contribution,” a statement on the club’s Web site said.
Allardyce’s assistant Neil McDonald will also leave with -immediate effect and assistant coach Steve Kean will take over first-team duties.
Blackburn were bought by Indian poultry giant Venky’s for ￡23 million (US$36.66 million) last month
Allardyce, a no-nonsense center back in his playing days, managed Blackpool and Notts County before spending eight years at Bolton.
He moved to Newcastle United in 2007, but lasted less than a season and joined Blackburn in December 2008 following the six-month tenure of Paul Ince.
“I am very shocked and disappointed to be leaving Blackburn Rovers,” Allardyce said in a -statement on the Web site of the League Managers’ Association (LMA). “I am extremely proud to have managed this club and I enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the players, my staff and the supporters during my time in charge. I now wish them and the football club every success for the future.”
Richard Bevan, LMA chief executive said: “When new owners take over a club, sadly, the manager’s position often hangs by a thread. To Sam’s great misfortune this has now happened twice and, on both occasions, it has been extremely difficult to understand the thinking behind the dismissal.”
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