SAM ALLARDYCE has left Sunderland’s training camp in Austria – but club officials insist his departure has nothing to do with the vacant England job and is simply to deal with ongoing discussions over potential transfers.
Allardyce returned to England earlier today, leaving his players’ training drills in the hands of his senior coaching staff.
His exit will inevitably lead to further speculation about his possible departure to take over as England boss, but a senior club source has stressed it is ‘business as usual’ and that nothing should be read into his flight from Austria.
Sunderland are pursuing a number of domestic-based targets, and only yesterday, Allardyce was speaking about his determination to force through his first signing of the summer.
Quit: Roy Hodgson
The Black Cats boss is due to meet with a delegation of agents in an attempt to seal an ongoing deal, but his presence in England could make it easier for the Football Association to set up a formal interview as they attempt to appoint Roy Hodgson’s successor.
As reported in yesterday’s Northern Echo, Allardyce will be included on the FA’s shortlist of candidates to replace Hodgson, who resigned in the wake of England’s last-16 exit at the European Championships.
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