Sam Allardyce And Rafa Benitez
Sam Allardyce has backed West Brom to rise from their Premier League ruins next season after bidding farewell to the club. Allardyce’s six-month reign at The Hawthorns was brought to an end on Sunday at Leeds United, in what was the relegated Baggies’ final match of a largely miserable campaign that has culminated with them making an immediate return to the Championship.
Sam Allardyce said: “I think it’s a level they are going to be very good at. I think they have got the basis of a Championship squad that can challenge. It needs some additions but I think there is the basis of a very talented Championship squad. I think the experience they have had this year will make them even better when they go back down to the Championship. They have a great opportunity to show how good they are in this Championship. They will need to strengthen the squad but that’s for somebody else.”
Allardyce also revealed that he has recommended his own thoughts on who should succeed him in the Albion hot-seat to the club hierarchy. Chris Wilder remains the likeliest candidate to replace Allardyce, though it’s not quite so clear cut and other names such as Frank Lampard have been mentioned. A decision is expected to be made within the next couple of weeks at the latest.
Sam Allardyce added: “I’ve told the club what I think and it’s up to them. I haven’t spoken to them for the last two or three days as we’ve been concentrating on the game. I’m not too disappointed in the performance. Sadly you can’t give away goals like we did today. A good holiday is next for me that’s for sure, after that I don’t know. I’m glad I came back and I’m disappointed I haven’t done what I’ve done previously. We stopped getting thrashed, then we started getting better but unfortunately not good enough.”
