Ex-Toon Coach A 'Very Bitter Man'!

Last updated : 14 November 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

Allardyce has been dragged into Kevin Bond's £250,000-plus courtroom battle with Newcastle, simply because he signed for the club!

Bond is claiming wrongful dismissal after he was dismissed as assistant manager to Glenn Roeder at St James' Park in September 2006 because of what he said to a Panorama documentary investigating corruption in football.

But he believes that Shepherd's recruitment of Allardyce is "double standards".

Allardyce is still trying to get his life together following the programme, and refuses to talk - or be interviewed - by the BBC.

Kevin Bond: "Newcastle entered into a three-year contract appointing Mr Sam Allardyce, the principal target of the Panorama programme of September 2006, as its new manager.

"Upon his appointment Mr Allardyce stated that the Panorama programme 'didn't come into the discussions when we were talking over the Newcastle job.' It is averred that [Newcastle] used the Panorama programme as a pretext for dismissing [Bond]."

Newcastle responded to Bond's contention by saying that Allardyce's role as manager was "irrelevant" to the 50-year-old's sacking.

NUFC: "If it is [Bond's] case that the hiring of Mr Allardyce is in some way indicative of a tolerance by [Newcastle] for dishonest behaviour, [Newcastle] will contend ... that the allegations against Mr Allardyce were based purely upon hearsay statements whereas the claimant condemned himself through his own words and conduct.

"Bond was recorded in his words [in the Panorama programme] agreeing to consider being a part of a dishonest arrangement with third parties which included the receipt of unlawful payments by him".