Blackburn Rovers Appoint Sam Allardyce
“Big Sam” Allardyce has inked a three year deal to replace Paul Ince as the manager of Blackburn Rovers.
“I’m very pleased indeed, I’ll say more at the news conference on Thursday,” said the 54-year-old ex-Bolton Wanderers manager, Allardyce.
The club released a statement on its website that simply said: “Rovers are delighted to announce the appointment of Sam Allardyce as manager.”
The new manager will be unveiled officially at 4pm tomorrow (Thursday). Allardyce has been out of work since being sacked as the manager of Newcastle United.
Allardyce takes over from Paul Ince who was removed from the post just 17 games in to his Blackburn career, complete with a dire run of 11 straight games without a win that has resulted in the team languishing in the relegation zone.
The move to appoint Allardyce comes as a surprise to many as he was widely tipped to take over at Sunderland.
A highly successful manager, Allardyce’s tough time at Newcastle was preceded by eight great years at the helm of Bolton, taking them to the Premier League, the Carling cup final 2004 and the Uefa Cup for the first time in their history in 2005.
Former Blackburn striker Kevin Gallacher told the BBC: “It is not a surprise choice.
“Blackburn needs someone who can put the club back together again and I think he can do that.”
At Bolton he was renowned for innovative thinking, using scientific techniques to keep players fit.
Graeme Souness, had also been linked with the job but had already said the job was not for him.
“I’m afraid you are talking to the wrong man,” Souness told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph newspaper.
“I don’t know anything and have had no contact at all from Blackburn Rovers. I’m not your man, I can definitely say that.”
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