Sunderland boss believes he should have got the England job

Nobody but nobody was going to beat it. But then Brian Barwick, the chief executive, told me there were no PowerPoint facilities at the interview venue, so I had to print off hard copies for the panel.

On the one hand Sam Allardyce hasn’t relegated a club from the Premier League (yet…).

The question we are asking today: ‘Is Sam Allardyce’s arrival at Sunderland bad news for Newcastle fans?’

The new Black Cats boss is a busy man at the moment, with his new autobiography due out this month.

Nolan was released by the Hammers in the summer as new boss Slaven Bilic looked to revamp his squad a fish out any dead wood. “He has vast experience of managing in the Premier League and an understanding, first-hand, of the passion of our fans, which will stand him in great stead”.

But with the January transfer window a few time off, Allardyce will have to weigh up his options with the current side before committing to the role to ensure that they aren’t left adrift in the relegation spots before he can begin rebuilding.

Allardyce is due to speak to the North East press pack this afternoon and we’ll have all the latest on our website from 3pm.

Despite only just returning to management after leaving West Ham at the end of last season, Allardyce still believes that he is a front runner for the England post.

Too many players are now the wrong side of 30, with the club arguably having picked up too many after their peak years, including the likes of Wes Brown, John O’Shea and Jermain Defoe alongside others who have failed at so-called bigger clubs.

Sam Allardyce believes tightening Sunderland’s fragile defence is key to transforming their fortunes.

His first home game at the Stadium of Light will be against Newcastle on 25 October, with an away trip to West Brom before that on 17 October.