We all knew Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace career was over and it was just a matter of time before he was asked to step down. However, what no one expected (except some Palace board members of course), was that it would be Big Sam getting the driver seat now. Allardyce has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal said to be worth £6m.
Now, it can strongly be argued that Allardyce’s appointment looks temporary to a large extent. He must have got just one target from the Palace board room- “get us into safety”. And as reports have stated that his selection was not a unanimous decision with many board members, personalities who has backed the club for years, and even fans, expressing their disapproval concerning it.
One major cause for the appointment to look even more provisional is that Allardyce is yet to know his consequences. He was asked to step down in September after only 67 days in charge of the England Football Team, following a newspaper sting (Daily Telegraph), which alleged that he offered advice on how to ‘get around’ rules on player transfers.
Now, although the Police has stated Allardyce that he is unlikely to face any criminal investigation for his actions, the FA disciplinary process in yet to make its decision, who are waiting for the full evidence. BBC reports that Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish isn’t much bothered by it and would do what deems necessary when the problem arises. But, will it be that easy when the administrative board is split concerning his appointment?
There are already reports that Allardyce would have serious problems convincing the board to sanction funds for the upcoming transfer window. Sunderland’s Lamine Kone is high on the list of Sam Allardyce and Palace are reportedly looking to bid something in the region of 15 million pounds for the central defender who helped Allardyce to save to Sunderland the blushes last season. However, Allardyce will have little time to make a move as he looks to seek further assurances before next transfer window opens in a week.
It’s said to be their American investors who ordered both the decisions of sacking and appointment and Allardyce, fortunately, seems to have their trust. And one look at his managerial record will justify that. He has managed eight clubs in English football since his debut with Blackpool way back in 1994 playing 945 games and winning 3 honours.
Surely, Sam Allardyce’s appointment has been the biggest decision Crystal Palace has made in a long time and one that doesn’t seem like a decent choice to many, but he could just be the pilot who could fly the Eagles out of their conundrum. The boss takes charge of his first game against Watford on Boxing Day.
