Former Newcastle United defender David Edgar has opened up about the time Sam Allardyce helped him deal with a loss in his personal life. Few Toon supporters would have positive words to say about the former manager, who lasted just eight months in the St James’ Park dugout.
Allardyce was appointed in May 2007 but, just days later, Mike Ashley bought the club for £130million. The Sports Direct tycoon never appointed “Big Sam” and it quickly became clear his days were numbered on Tyneside.
Allardyce was sacked the following January to make way for Kevin Keegan’s sensational return. Eight years later, the former Bolton Wanderers manager would cast his revenge by beating Newcastle as Sunderland manager and remaining in the Premier League in their place.
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While Magpies fans would regard Allardyce’s stint as forgettable, ex-defender Edgar will always hold him in high regard. The former Canadian international has opened up about how the 68-year-old allowed him to fly home following the death of a close friend.
“He (Allardyce) was class,” Edgar told the Undr the Cosh podcast. “I liked him and have a lot of time for him. That's when sports science started coming into it and things like that. It was new to a lot of the big hitters.
“But I lost my best friend when I was 19 in a car crash back in Canada. I went to see Sam just to ask for a couple of days off to fly home and it couldn't have been better. Those are the type of things that stick with you - it couldn't have been better.
“He told me a story about him losing his mate and it's kind of like, just normal human beings right? That’s where I've got a lot of respect and a lot of time for him. He would get the team together, take us for nights out, there would be a magician… things like that to keep the group together that I never saw before. It was good.”
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