Ex-striker blasts ‘disrespectful’ Allardyce after West Brom confession
Noel Whelan has blasted Sam Allardyce for being “disrespectful” towards West Brom ahead of his exit.
The former Leeds United striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the manager had shows a degree of “arrogance” after announcing his departure.
Speaking to talkSPORT, the 66-year-old revealed he always planned to walk away if the Baggies were relegated.
Allardyce previously suggested he would be open to staying with the Baggies in the Championship.
He even said he would hold talks about his future with the club after their relegation was confirmed.
However, the former England boss confessed to talkSPORT he “wasn’t telling the truth”.
Whelan slammed Allardyce for his behaviour but admitted he expected the Baggies to go down anyway.
Whelan told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge: “A bit disrespectful from Sam Allardyce. Probably a little bit too much arrogance to think that he’d just walk away from the club.
“I never felt they were going to stay up in the first place. I felt it was a losing battle coming into that football club. There was no way that, whatever he had done in the past, he was going to emulate.
“I love his confidence that he felt he could. But I think if you ask 90 per cent of people, there was absolutely no chance that was going to happen.
“If he’d have kept them up and walked away, I don’t think too many people would have grumbled.”
West Brom face Leeds United at Elland Road on the final day of the Premier League season.
The Baggies could leapfrog Fulham into 17th if they beat Leeds and the Cottagers lose to Newcastle United.
In other news, Football Insider can reveal the leading contender to replace Allardyce.