Allardyce leaves Newcastle United

LONDON: Sam Allardyce became the latest example of Premier League impatience on Wednesday when he "parted company" with Newcastle United after half a season with the club.

Allardyce becomes the eighth Premier League manager to leave this season and Newcastle's fourth in four years. Former Newcastle and England striker and now TV analyst Alan Shearer has been immediately installed as favorite to replace him despite having nil coaching experience.

In a statement on the Premier League club's Website (www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk), Newcastle said the decision had been reached by mutual agreement but earlier in the day Allardyce spoke to the media about team matters and told Sky Sports that if he was leaving it was "news to me".

"A new manager has not yet been appointed. We will make a further announcement on the managerial position when appropriate," said club chairman Chris Mort.

Allardyce said: "I am disappointed to be leaving Newcastle United but I wish the club all the best for the remainder of the season and for the future."

Assistant coach Nigel Pearson will take charge of the team for Saturday's match at champions Manchester United - the shining example of continuity with Alex Ferguson into his 22nd year in charge despite winning nothing in his first four years at Old Trafford.

Allardyce leaves after only 24 games following his appointment on a three-year contract last year. The 53-year-old former centerback leaves the club 11th in the standings and facing an FA Cup third-round replay with second division Stoke City.

Over the Christmas and New Year period Newcastle lost three of their four league games, scrambling a point from a draw with bottom club Derby County.

Speculation was rife that defeat by Stoke would be the end, but a goalless away draw left the situation unchanged until Wednesday's announcement.

The level of expectation at Newcastle, who have not won a major domestic honor for more than half a century, has proved the undoing of a host of big-name managers in recent years.

Ossie Ardiles, Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit, Bobby Robson, Graeme Souness and Glenn Roeder all arrived full of hope but only Keegan got close to satisfying demand with his exciting side of the mid-1990s, who went agonizingly close to a first league title since 1927.

Allardyce follows the earlier departures of Jose Mourinho (Chelsea), Sammy Lee - his successor at Bolton - Martin Jol (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Hutchings (Wigan Athletic), Steve Bruce (Birmingham City) Billy Davies (Derby County) and Lawrie Sanchez (Fulham).

Agencies

(China Daily 01/11/2008 page24)