BLACKPOOL Football Club's manager Sam Allardyce was sensationally sacked yesterday (May 29), exactly one week after the club's chairman, Owen Oyston (pictured), was jailed.

The sacking was the first dramatic move of the club's new regime under Vicki Oyston, who replaced her husband as chairman after he was sentenced to six years for rape and indecent assault.

Mrs Oyston said: "This is a very sad occasion and a very difficult thing to do. Sam is a very nice chap but we thought a change was needed."

Allardyce's dismissal followed two weeks of rumours surrounding the manager's future after the collapse of Blackpool's season when they threw away their chances of promotion to Division One.

And the news came within hours of his assistant Phil Brown's announcement that he is leaving the club to re-join Bolton Wanderers as first team coach. Brown, 37, will take up a two-year deal as the No 2 at the club.

News of Allardyce's sacking came in a brief statement at 11.30am yesterday which read: "It is with regret that Blackpool Football Club announces it will be terminating the employment of manager Sam Allardyce.

"The position of team manager will be advertised in the national press and we look forward to announcing our new manager in the not too distant future. The Board would like to thank Sam Allardyce for the hard work and commitment he has shown throughout his period with us, and wish him every success in the future."

Allardyce, who joined the club in July 1994, was extremely disappointed about the decision.

He said: "The Board have made a decision that I obviously feel is wrong. I think it will be a day or two before it sinks in.

"I really can't quite come to terms with it and I don't think I ever will."

Gill Bridge, managing director, added yesterday: "It was decided last night at a full board meeting that the manager's contract would be terminated for a number of reasons, primarily because we did not get promoted despite enormous investment into the club.

"The manager will always be judged by his results. The salient factor is the huge amounts of money that have been invested in the club. Although we finished third, it is not good enough."

Mrs Bridge also confirmed that Vicki Oyston was the new chairman of the club and revealed that Billy Bingham would be the deputy chairman.

Asked if Owen Oyston had been consulted in jail about the moves, Gill Bridge added: "Mr Oyston will be in regular contact with the club and will be consulted on all major decisions."

It is hoped that Oyston's imprisonment will not jeopardise plans for the new super stadium.

Managing director of the International Collosseum project, Michael Joyce, said: "The final detailed plans for the stadium are about six weeks away when the full planning application will go to Fylde Borough Council.

"The constructors McAlpine have told us the funding for the stadium is not in jeopardy."

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