Ex-Bolton Boss Big Sam Leaves Newcastle

By Mark Heys
January 9 2008

Former Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce has departed Newcastle United by mutual consent after a total of just eight months in charge at St James Park.

Allardyce contraversially ended his successful eight year reign at Bolton last April only to turn up at Newcastle as Glenn Roeder's successor just two weeks later.

The 53-year old leaves Tyneside after discussions with chairman Chris Mort and owner Mike Ashley and all parties have agreed to go their seperate ways.

It is fair to say Allardyce is one of Bolton's best ever managers but things did not work out at Newcastle despite a lot of investment in the squad which he inherited.

At Bolton, the man they called "Big Sam" achieved four top ten finishes, reached a domestic cup final, twice qualified for Europe and brought the likes of Youri Djorkaeff, Fernando Hierro, Jay-Jay Okocha, Ivan Campo and Nicolas Anelka to the club during his time in charge.

He could not repeat that feat at Newcastle and the brand of football coupled with a mixture of poor results has lead to his downfall.

His first game for the Toon Army was ironically back at Bolton in August and he won the game 3-1, but his last game came in a goalless draw away to Stoke City in the FA Cup.

Where next for Sam, a crack at continental management maybe?