Newspaper sting made Sam Allardyce’s position as England manager ‘untenable’, talkSPORT told

The conduct which led to Sam Allardyce’s England departure reeks of ‘greed’, talkSPORT has been told.

Less than 24 hours after Allardyce was targeted in a Daily Telegraph investigation into alleged corruption in English football, the 61-year-old left his post as Three Lions boss.

His tenure ends after just 67 days and comes after crisis talks at the Football Association.

READ MORE INCLUDING FA STATEMENT: Sam Allardyce leaves post as England manager

FA chief executive Martin Glenn said shortly after Allardyce’s departure was confirmed that his behaviour does ‘not work when you are the manager of England’.

Reacting to the news, the Daily Mirror’s chief football writer John Cross told Kick Off: “It is remarkable.

“I woke up this morning and was trying to think about it overnight - is it that bad? Has he been stupid/naive, but has he really committed something that is sackable?

“Throughout the day it has become clear in my own mind that it has made his position untenable by being victim of a newspaper sting. 

“I think he’s been idiotic, stupid, and greedy and it is my understanding that as a result of this he offered his resignation - he accepts it’s his fault. The FA, it’s clear, were determined to have their say and get rid of him. I don’t think the FA chairman Greg Clarke was going to have it, they would have definitely pulled the trigger as well.

“It is also clear the FA [told Allardyce] that his behaviour had been unacceptable.”

Allardyce, who left Sunderland in July to take up the position to succeed Roy Hodgson, first described the role as one ‘I have always wanted’.

His pride was clear upon being unveiled and he took charge of his first match early in September, a 1-0 win in Slovakia. He had been due to take charge of his first game at Wembley next month, in a 2018 World Cup qualifier v Malta.

Cross continued: “The thinking behind it is pure and simple - greed.

“I am afraid to say £3million a year, the job of his dreams, a job that he had always craved and yet it still wasn’t enough to stop him from thinking: ‘Am I right to go and meet these guys about a £400,000 bogus contract for after-dinner speaking?’

“No. He was still lured into that situation, it was having been lured in that he’s made ridiculous remarks and let himself down.

“Look, I think he realises he’s made the worst mistake of his life. It’s too late now. Where does it leave his career, where does it leave England?

"Honestly, I’ve been through the lot with the [Fabio] Capello, Fake Sheikh with Sven [-Goran Eriksson], I just think this is the most bizarre of all and it smacks me of pure, pure greed.

“That, I am afraid to say, is the root of so many evils in football.”