Allardyce still “smarting” from lack of support

SAM ALLARDYCE has cited a lack of financial support at boardroom level as the reason for his controversial sacking by Newcastle United and insisted he was not given a fair chance to bring success to Tyneside.

Allardyce parted company with the Magpies in January after just eight months in charge following a poor start to the season.

But Allardyce, who was appointed by former chairman Freddy Shepherd before last summer’s takeover and yesterday spoke for the first time in detail about his departure, claims he was not given the backing he had been expecting when he took the job.