Football Association fail to explain why sacked England boss Sam Allardyce was given a £1m pay-off

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The FA are blaming legal confidentiality issues for their failure to explain why Sam Allardyce was given a £1million pay-off after being sacked as England manager.

Chairman Greg Clarke pre-empted FA Council concerns about the huge severance deal for a boss who lasted just 67 days by giving members a detailed explanation of the FA’s course of action following Big Sam’s downfall.

Clarke’s address made great play of the FA legal team’s role in the decision to part company with Allardyce and clauses in the manager’s terms of departure stopping Clarke from talking about a pay-off first revealed by Sportsmail.

The FA have cited legal confidentiality issues for failing to explain Sam Allardyce's pay-off

FA chairman Greg Clarke was set to be questioned over Allardyce's £1million compensation

Clarke added that City of London Police still have all the relevant material on Allardyce’s claimed entrapment by reporters while they assess whether any criminal activity took place.

The chairman’s statement had the desired effect and issues around Allardyce’s exit were not probed any further.

The St George’s Park empire of FA technical director Dan Ashworth grows ever bigger, with interim England Under 21 coach Aidy Boothroyd — a close friend of Ashworth’s — likely to have that role made permanent if Gareth Southgate is confirmed as senior boss.

Ashworth’s ‘England DNA’ is even encroaching into media territory and he watched the goalless draw against Slovenia from the press box with two video analysts. 

Meanwhile, an ITV peak viewing figure of 7.1million shows England’s armchair audience remain remarkably loyal even when the entertainment level is so low.

Interim England Under 21 coach Aidy Boothroyd could land the role on a permanent basis

England cricketer Jimmy Anderson is interested in playing for Perth Scorchers in Australia’s Big Bash, despite the Twenty20 team being coached by Justin Langer. 

The former Aussie opener branded Anderson a ‘bit of a pussy’ in his 2009 Ashes dossier.

Jimmy Anderson could join the Twenty20 Big Bash league in Australia with Perth Scorchers

Such is the attention on Wayne Rooney — with the majority of cameras turned towards him on the subs’ bench before kick-off in Slovenia — that it was no surprise the only agent who bothered travelling to Ljubljana was Rooney’s loyal adviser Paul Stretford. 

Wayne Rooney's adviser Paul Stretford was the only agent who travelled to Ljubljana this week

Allardyce jungle dodge 

Sam Allardyce is taking time to recover from his sacking by England, so much so that his advisors did not even bother telling him about an approach to take part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 

Big Sam still enjoys popular support, though, with many of the 800 England fans in Ljubljana responding to how he lost his job by chanting: ‘F*** the Telegraph, justice for Allardyce.’

Meanwhile, the FA have given Scotland 13,000 tickets for the World Cup qualifier at Wembley on November 11, ensuring a great atmosphere for a match likely to decide Gareth Southgate’s future as England manager. 

England supporters showed their support for Allardyce by chanting 'F*** the Telegraph'

There is surprise that the National Football Museum have chosen former boxing champion Carl Froch to present the induction certificate to Nottingham Forest’s double European Cup-winning side on their overdue entry into the Hall of Fame. 

It’s felt it would have been more appropriate if the award had been handed over by a football connection from Forest’s glory years — such as a member of the late Brian Clough’s family.

Carl Froch will present Nottingham Forest’s double European Cup winners in the Hall of Fame

BBC football commentator Alan Green intends to boycott the 2018 World Cup in Russia and he will not be behind the mic for qualifying games either. Green’s new contract with Radio 5 Live up to 2018 does not include England matches.

Rio Ferdinand may soon find his BT Sport pundit duties compromised by him having to comment on players represented by his burgeoning agency New Era.

The latest arrivals are Norwich twins Josh and Jacob Murphy, while Jesse Lingard is also expected to join after leaving Simon Kennedy’s Pinnacle agency.

Rio Ferdinand may find himself at the centre of a conflict of interest due to his agency New Era

Cricket's successful County Championship innovation of the away side being able to bowl first without the need for a coin toss is going to be retained.

The change has encouraged pitches which have helped the development of home-grown spin bowlers such as Middlesex’s Ollie Rayner and Somerset’s Jack Leach.

Middlesex's Ollie Rayner (second left) developed during their County Championship success