One job in the last five years may have put Sam Allardyce into the wilderness lately, but he’s not about to get on his hands and knees for longer than four matches at Leeds United. Quite the contrary, the 68-year-old would need terms and conditions meeting if he were to stick around next term.
With one of the most seismic summers in recent United history ahead, where league status and ownership issues will dictate everything, next season’s head coach feels a long way down the list of current priorities. First, keep Leeds in the Premier League and then see whether Allardyce is the right man.
The veteran manager had been asked what it would take for him to stay on beyond these coming four games and far from snapping the club’s hand off for a rare opportunity, Allardyce set out his requests. The former England boss is not getting out of bed in June for anything less than an improved squad with meaningful investment.
READ MORE: Shutting Robbie Keane up, attacking a judge and Sam Allardyce's Leeds United stall is set
“I wouldn’t commit to anything at the moment, but I’d say a lot depends on the most important thing I said in the last answer and that’s recruitment,” he said. “Who are the players coming in and how good are they because if they stay up this year it’s clear the squad would need strengthening.
“If I stayed I wouldn’t want to be in a relegation dogfight from the very start, personally.”
More than reshaping a squad which has fought against relegation for two seasons on the bounce, Allardyce would also need to clear it with the most important person in his life.
“Never say never,” he said. “It depends what happens at the end of the four matches and what the conversation’s all about and how I feel.
“More importantly, how the wife feels because I can't keep making her feel so nervous again, as I have done, but there we go. She's good as gold.”
READ NEXT:
Sam Allardyce insists he is 'as good as' Arteta, Klopp and Guardiola for 'football knowledge'
Sam Allardyce calls for Leeds United to 'shock' Man City in first Premier League game in charge
Everything Sam Allardyce said on Leeds United squad, coaching staff and Manchester City
Sam Allardyce hails Robbie Keane influence amid Leeds United's relegation fight
Sam Allardyce's first four games for every club amid Leeds United relegation fight
