Joking apart, the pair held rather public "secret" talks in London last week and one of the main topics of conversation will surely have been the support staff Allardyce wants around him at St James's Park.The End For McDermott?
Joking apart, the pair held rather public "secret" talks in London last week and one of the main topics of conversation will surely have been the support staff Allardyce wants around him at St James's Park.It is well known at Bolton Wanderers Sam had the biggest backroom staff in the Premiership, with over 20, and that didn't include the tea lady.
Allardyce: "Building the infrastructure was always the most important thing. It has taught me that wherever I go, it becomes the essential thing to do - to organise a group who are qualified in what they do, give them responsibility to do it with me overseeing it, then delivering it to the players to make them better and enjoy playing football more than ever."
So perhaps we have seen the last of "Coco The Clown" Terry McDermott, who many ex-Toon players have blamed for the lack of dicipline in the club.
Originally brought in as Kevin Keegan's "buffer", the Scouser made his return in dramatic style under Graeme Souness, slagging off Craig Bellamy when he openly admitted he'd never even met the player.
Allardyce: "Building the staff meant we had no money for players. Fortunately I knew the system, I knew that outside this country good quality players were being released from clubs who wanted you to take them on loan and pay some of their wages.
"It enabled me to bring in high class players like Ivan Campo, Bruno N'Gotty, Youri Djorkaeff and Fernando Hierro.
"It was a case of how you handled the players and that was when the backroom staff came in."
Gary Speed is expected to join him at St James' Park.