The former Black Cats player and manager Len Ashurst, says Sam Allardyce is just what the country needs right now and that the FA should allow him to manage the team in his own style.
Although the 77-year-old knows the appointment of Allardyce wouldn’t be popular with Sunderland fans, he says England’s needs are greater than Sunderland's right now.
Lots of speculation is currently surrounding the vacant England managers job after a diabolical Euro 2016 with Roy Hodgson in charge. Fans and pundits have pin pointed the lack of motivation and organisation throughout the team and Ashurst said in an interview with the Sunderland Echo: “I don’t think he has a weakness in his armoury as a manager and he excels in terms of motivation, organisation and attention to detail - arguably the most important areas England need to address.”
Ashurst also expressed his feelings on England's most recent game against Iceland where they lost 2-1. He said: “I have to say I think the performance against Iceland was the worst England display I’ve seen in my whole life.”
The former Black Cats player played 458 times from 1957-1971. No outfield player has played more games than Ashurst, who then followed up with a career in management. He went on to manage the Rokermen in the 1984-85 season and claims all his experience in the game tells him Allardyce is the perfect man for the job.
Different names in the frame for the job
Another former Sunderland manager is currently in the frame, Steve Bruce – current manager of newly promoted side Hull City – has also been linked. Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has also been linked and Ashurst says both wouldn’t be bad choices, but Allardyce is ‘the obvious candidate to succeed Roy Hodgson.’
Allardyce was also praised by Ashurst for his ability to guide young players and insists England have a lot of young players who need ‘hammering into shape.’ Just recently the 61-year-old had flown over to Austria for an intense training camp with the first team and had included more than five under 21 players. He also gave first team debut's to three players in Sunderland's last game of last season against Watford.
If Allardyce is appointed as England’s new head coach, the Black Cats will need to act quickly to appoint a new manager with just four weeks until they kick off in their first Premier League game of the new season.