This should be good. Another managerial departure in the English Premier League. Another sacking few saw coming.
Disgarding Pragamatism For Ambition, Blackburn Rovers Sack Sam Allardyce
While Mike Ashley's booting of Chris Hughton fit-in with the reputation of Newcastle's ownership, Sam Allardyce's departure from Blackburn, just confirmed by Sky Sports News, is a bit more shocking.
True, when Allardyce was hired to replace Paul Ince two years ago, has was viewed as a lesser of two evils. Blackburn supporters loathed the type of football Allardyce employed - an overly pragmatic, sometimes brutal rejection of style for results - but they loathed the idea of the Championship more. This is, after all, one of four teams to win the Premier League, a club that was back at the edge of Europe before Mark Hughes departed for Manchester City.
Sam Allardyce leaves Blackburn Rovers with Immediate effect
Sky Sports
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Allardyce came in, kept a sinking ship afloat, and has since stabilized Rovers. Unfortunately, he has done so with predictably brutal effect, exemplified with his deploying a 5-4-1 formation to start Saturday’s match at Bolton. Allardyce ended-up losing that Lancashire Derby 2-1, Blackburn’s first loss to their local rivals in five years, a defeat made more poignant for the Trotters playing down a man for most of the second half. That, surprisingly, was the last straw.
Under Allardyce, Blackburn had started to occupy this strange no-man’s land in the Premier League. I’ve often referred to them as a litmus test club. If you could beat Allardyce’s Blackburn, you were a decent side that could (at least) think about pushing on toward Europe. If you couldn’t beat Blackburn, you’re likely in for a relegation battle.
Understandably, that status wasn’t good enough for Rovers, who are in the middle of their 10th consecutive season in the Premier League. Having made four trips to Europe during that time, Blackburn and their supporters are not so far removed from days of higher aspirations.
The team’s new owners, the Venky’s group, made that clear in their statement, released on the club’s web site:
The Venky’s Group, owners of Blackburn Rovers Football Club, has today confirmed the departure of manager Sam Allardyce and assistant manager Neil McDonald withimmediate effect.
First team coaching duties will be taken on by Steve Kean (currently 1st team coach) for the immediate future.
We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club. We would like to put on record our thanks to Mr Allardyce for his contribution to Blackburn Rovers Football Club.
Allardyce has been manager at Blackburn since December 17, 2008, winning 32 of his 90 matches. Before moving to Ewood Park, Allardyce had managed Newcastle United, Bolton, Notts County and Blackpool, earning Bolton promotion to the Premier League in 2001.
With little speculation surrounding Allardyce’s firing, there are no names currently linked with the Rovers job, though after last week’s managerial change, one name will be on the minds of most sympathetic Premier League-followers: Chris Hughton.
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