Why Newcastle sacked Sam Allardyce, in the West Ham boss’ words

He has been back to the north east since he left the club in January 2008, masterminding a 2-1 win for Blackburn over the Magpies.

But the manner of his dismissal from Newcastle still plays on his mind ahead of tomorrow’s trip with the Hammers..

He said: “I think a short tenure at any football club, and not results-based when you lose your job, is something you are very upset about at the time, you are always upset when you lose a job.

“The reason that was cited to me was that they wanted to move in their own direction because I wasn’t the man who was selected by them, I was already there so at the end of the day you have to accept that and move on.

“That settlement, I have to say, was extremely well conducted by both parties - within five or six days it was all finished and I couldn’t ask for any more than that.

“It is a very distressing time for you and your family because no matter how many people start saying ‘he will be all right, he has got that much money’ that is not the issue. The issue is your professionalism has been questioned, your ability to do a particular job has been questioned.

“It is damaging to a career you have spent years and years and years putting together and accumulating and proving that you are a quality manager and even though the reasons are not that valid it is still pretty damaging.”

Allardyce has no doubt earned a comfortable amount of money from his years in the sport but he does not do such a stressful job purely for financial reward as the pain he suffered when he left Newcastle suggests.

“It (money) is not the issue; I don’t manage for money, I manage for glory,” he said.

“Money follows because there is big money at this level but you manage for glory, you don’t manage for money.”