LONDON — Sam Allardyce probably knew the end was in sight when Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and chairman Chris Mort said it wasn't. Ashley's stock reply to speculation about his manager's future was to tell people not to listen to rumors.
So on Wednesday, Allardyce was sacked, excuse me, left the club by mutual consent. No manager is sacked these days.
Quite what mutual consent is heaven only knows. A manager either resigns or is shown the front door, but in the politically correct (and litigious) world of Planet Football, it's now mutual consent which gives the impression of a 50-50 decision.