Former England manager Sam Allardyce says he has ‘paid the consequences’ for ‘error of judgement’

FORMER England manager Sam Allardyce has told reporters he made “an error of judgement”, adding: “I have paid the consequences.”

The 61-year-old’s contract was terminated by mutual agreement on Tuesday night after crisis talks with the Football Association triggered by a Daily Telegraph investigation in which he was covertly filmed advising undercover reporters on how to sidestep FA transfer regulations.

Clearly shaken by events, Allardyce told reporters outside his home in Bolton on Wednesday morning: “Entrapment has won on this occasion. I have to accept that.”

Allardyce suggested he thought he was helping out an associate when he was caught in the sting.

He said: “I think that on reflection, it was a silly thing to do. But just to let everybody know, I sort of helped out what was somebody I’ve known for 30 years and unfortunately it was an error of judgement on my behalf and I’ve paid the consequences.”

He said the agreement to leave his job after just 67 days and one match “was done very amicably with the FA”.

He said he had apologised to those concerned for the “unfortunate situation that I put myself in”.

The former Bolton and Newcastle boss said he had a confidentiality agreement and could not answer further questions.

He added: “I am off abroad just to chill out and to reflect and I’d like to wish all the England lads, Gareth and the staff all the very best.”

Asked if that was his last job in football he said: “Who knows. We’ll wait and see.”

Allardyce’s departure means the FA is once again wounded and on the lookout fora new manager just months after crashing out of the Euro 2016 tournament at thehands of lowly Iceland.

His reign in what he gleefully described as his “dream” was the shortest of any full-time England manager.

The Telegraph, as part of a wide-ranging operation, covertly filmed the newly-appointed Three Lions boss making a variety of indiscreet and controversial comments to undercover reporters posing as businessmen.

Some were merely disparaging or offensive – such as those aimed at predecessor Roy Hodgson, who was demeaningly called ‘Woy’ in a reference to his speech impediment – while some constituted even graver lapses in judgment.

The willingness of Allardyce and his adviser Mark Curtis to negotiate a £400,000 pay day to act as a keynote speaker for investment firms in the Far East was not viewed kindly by employers who already paid him £3 million a year.

And his thoughts on ways around the FA’s ban on third-party ownership of stars was arguably even more damaging.

In an official statement released on Tuesday night, Allardyce gave a “sincere and wholehearted apology” for his part in the messy divorce.

“Further to recent events, the FA and I have mutually agreed to part company,” Allardyce said.

“It was a great honour for me to be appointed back in July and I am deeply disappointed at this outcome.

“This afternoon, I met with (FA officials) Greg Clarke and Martin Glenn and offered a sincere and wholehearted apology for my actions.

“Although it was made clear during the recorded conversations that any proposed arrangements would need the FA’s full approval, I recognise I made some comments which have caused embarrassment.

“As part of today’s meeting, I was asked to clarify what I said and the context in which the conversations took place. I have co-operated fully in this regard.

“I also regret my comments with regard to other individuals.”

England Under-21 manager Gareth Southgate will take charge of the senior side’s next four games – the first of which is at home to Malta on October 8 – with a squad announcement due on Sunday.

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